Whale Rider

Name: Whale Rider
Genre: Drama, Family
Released: 2003-01-30
Duration: 1 h 41 min
Rating: 7.5
Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa

In the ways of the ancients she found a hope for the future.

Whale Rider (2003)

Timing: 1:41 (101 min)

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7/10
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7.5/10
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Everything about the movie

Video 3

Photo 17

Actors and characters

Video for the film Whale Rider — Whale Rider 20th Anniversary Edition - Official Trailer

2:11

Photo 17

Release date

2003-01-30

Country

Germany, New Zealand

Production

Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Pandora Film, New Zealand Film Commission, South Pacific Pictures, New Zealand Film Production Fund, NZ on Air, ApolloMedia

Genre

Drama, Family

Budget

$3 500 000

Box office

$41 442 113

Website

http://www.whaleriderthemovie.com/

Director

Niki Caro

Actors

Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu, Rachel House, Taungaroa Emile, Tammy Davis, Mabel Wharekawa
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

John Barnett, Tim Sanders, Frank Hübner, Linda Goldstein Knowlton

Camera operator

Leon Narbey

Composer

Lisa Gerrard

Artist

Grant Major

Audition

Diana Rowan, Christina Asher, Stuart Turner

Editing

David Coulson
Whole Team (30)

Short description

A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.

What's left behind the scenes

During the film auditions, Keisha Castle-Hughes stated that she knew how to swim. It turned out this wasn't true only when filming began on scenes requiring her character to swim. A stunt double performed those scenes in her place.
The whales in the film are a combination of real whales, life-size models, and digital technology.
Director and screenwriter Niki Caro insisted that Keisha Castle-Hughes go barefoot throughout the entire shoot – even off-camera. This was necessary for a more complete immersion into the role (Māori always go barefoot).
A significant part of the film focuses on Paikea engaging in activities common among the Māori people, activities traditionally performed by men (such as canoeing or wrestling). When actress Keisha Castle-Hughes performed these tasks, the other actors and crew members recited special Māori incantations to ensure her safety. The Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand.
The film was shot in Whangarei, New Zealand, where the novel is set. Local residents were used as actors and extras.
10,000 people auditioned for the child roles in the film.