Whale Rider Response - Queens without Kings

Whale Rider is a gripping film that not only showcases a beautiful third-world culture with incredible reverence and integrity, it also boldly bears the message that all have the strength to lead, regardless of gender. Diversity is an important concept to see in the media, because it opens the mind to new paradigms, and the heart to more friends. This concept is especially important in children's media, because the earlier the awakening to a world of different-minded people, the more amicable children are likely to be to others.

The story follows a girl named Pai, who believes herself to be the heir of the tribal chief. Her grandfather is upset with her because she embarrasses him by parading as if she had authority, but of course, she is a girl, and cannot rule. Pai is smart and recalcitrant, and she refuses to back down from his reluctance and abuse. Her marginalization in the community as a weakened girl with delusional fantasies helps highlight a very simple and easily relatable problem which children have likely felt being both the bully and the bullied. Her eminent leadership is not apparent to the audience either which causes the audience to question the legitimacy of her claims. I can recall from personal experience a situation contrived much like in the narrative, when a much more self-centered Andy would tell a competitor for Student Activities President that she was a girl and could never win against me. On the flip side, I could recall a time when I was told by peers that I couldn't commiserate with them because I was just a rich kid, when I never had been.

In the film, we dance on the polarity of prejudice and diversity. The notion that women are not qualified to lead a nation is based entirely in prejudice and tradition, and the error of the island ways is so gruelingly apparent, it makes us question the inequity of the real world around us. It also demands a great deal of mature attention and compassion from children who have the mental capacity to carry the essentialism that diversity is good and rules are meant to broken, because it's not overwrought or cheesy by clearly marking the error of Koro's traditions with Pai's innate righthood. The director, much like Kristin Adnerson would remark towards our Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, "hers is a narrative infused with disbelief, irony and rage both at those who perpetuate fundamentalism." Diverse perspectives is also the antidote to prejudice.

Whale Rider is an exemplary film in showing diversity. Not only does the film present a fair depiction of the struggles of women in Maori civilization, it is done so by a Maori woman with a personal knowledge of said struggles. This makes the film that much more valuable to young viewers because it is poignant, heart-opening, and authentic.