Analyzing Myth in the Whale Rider Film

Based on the Maori myth of Paikea coming to their land on a whale, I can analyze the film, Whale Rider, to create connections between the culture and the myth. In the film Paikea, otherwise known as Pai, instantly challenges the Maori ways by being born a girl. As we know from the myth, the Maori strongly believe in men leading the tribe. Ruatapu was challenged by his brother because he was seen as less valuable because his mother was a slave.  Kahutia-te-rangi  rose above his revenge seeking lower valued brother and showed to be the hero. In the film, Paikea challenges this myth, because her brother who was suppose to lead the tribe, died. It is interesting that in the film that the mother and brother die, almost leaving the destiny in Pai's hands despite her gender.  Although, because Paikea is a  girl, this disappoints the grandfather and the rest of the tribe. The tribe seems doomed because of Paikea's brothers death. Based on the myth, only a man can be strong enough to lead the Maori people out of darkness. There is nothing that proves based on tradition that a woman could serve as a leader.

The film shows the power struggle Pai endures with her strong grandfather, Korro. This could be seen as Korro understanding the myth of the Maori people, and believing only a man from high status can lead the people. Like Uenuku in the myth, he disregarded his son of lesser status. This could be seen as Korro disregarding Pai, and only wanting  the best to lead his tribe.Little does Korro know, he is only further offsetting the ancestors.

The film also goes back and forth between the new and old traditions which can be interpreted through the myth of the whale rider. Paikea begins to challenge the old traditions by trying to prove she is capable of becoming the tribes new leader despite her gender. The film shows Paikea beginning to try and step up to the plate in her tribe by practicing old traditions and chants in secret. The viewer sees Paikea in this new light, while her grandfather, Korro, grows angry at Paikea. Korro is very stuck in the old traditions the Maori people have and feels it is his responsibility to preserve these ways. Korro searches for a new leader among the boys in the tribe by training boys through these old traditions, but is only let down when he discovers no one can meet his expectations for the old Maori traditions. At one point in the movie Korro throws his whale tooth in the ocean to be a test for the " new leader", but is disappointed to find that no one can retrieve it. We then get a sense of foreshadowing and a look into the myth when we see Paikea retrieve the whale tooth with ease. Could it be that because the ancestors knew Paikea was the leader, they helped her try to prove to Korro that she was the chosen one?  Later in the film, Paikea performs traditional Maori chants and dances in honor of her angry Grandfather, who doesn't show. This was again, a sign of Paikea's leadership and dedication to her tribe.

Upset, Paikea calls to the ancestors asking them for answers. This resembles the myth of the gods of the ocean, Taniwha. They send Paikea ( humpback whales) to give answers to the Maori people. The whales from the ocean become beached in the film. I believe this symbolized Korro's stubborness in the movie. Just as the whales wouldn't budge no matter what efforts were attempted by the people, Korro wouldn't budge his mindset for seeing Paikea in a different light. The Maori people are frightened and confused as to why the ancestors would do this to the whales. The whales remain stuck until Paikea gets on top of the humpback whale. The whale moves and the rest follow swimming deep into the ocean. At this point in the film it is clear that Paikea has been the whale rider all along. Just like Kahutia-te-rangi, Paikea called to ancestors and received not only answers, but a new life for the tribe. In the film the viewer can come to the conclusion that Paikea was meant to lead her people out of darkness. The grandmother in the film gives Korro the whale tooth Paikea retrieved the day before. In shock, Korro finally understands the ancestors message. The film held true to the myth, by having Paikea become the founder of hope for the Maori. Just like Paikea came to the new land many years ago, she showed them the new way and a way out of the darkness. Paikea gives a stream of hope for the Maori and a new way of looking at life. The film combined the original Paikea myth with new traditions for the Maori people.

In the film Pai then sails off into the sea on a canoe, built by her father. In the myth, Ruatapu built a canoe to harm his other brothers. In the film, Pai's father began building a canoe, but never finished and left for occupational reasons. This is ironic because the canoe is never finished in the film until Pai's death. When Pai dies, her spirit is left with the Maori people and gives the tribe a sense of direction. The community works together to finish the canoe knowing that Pai's spirit will always be there. The tribe sees that it wasn't necessarily one person they were waiting to lead, but that their community needed to come together to advocate for change. The death of Pai brought togeteher old and new traditions. The final scenes of the film capture the old Maori dances and rituals with exotic body/face paintings. We then get a visual of Pai on the canoe with Korro and the tribe men representing her spirit. We can infer that the spirit of Paikea will always lead the way for this tribe. Unfortantly, it took Pai's death for Korro to understand the influence she had, but it wouldn't of worked out any other way. Korro needed the answers from ancestors to ensure him that a more modern way of living is OK. Korro finally understands the modernization of the Maori culture, while staying true to traditional ways. As for Pai, we know she is safe because her spirit is with the community and her ancestors.