Girls Will Be Girls

People are so much deeper and far more extraordinary than what gender they were assigned at birth. Some little girls just cannot be told, and they make the most fierce, strong, and devoted leaders because of it. Gender is just an accessory to someone’s true purpose and identity, and Whale Rider reminds us of that.

The 2002 film Whale Rider, directed by Kiki Caro (Mulan), follows a young girl named Pai. In her family every firstborn son carries the name of their first chief, Paikea, who was the first person of their tribe to reach their land on the back of a whale. Pai is no ordinary girl, she is the descendant of that very chief and the only one heir to the honor of being chief.

In New Zealand, Maori tradition only allows men to step into chiefdom. Then there came Pai. Upon Pai’s, Paikea, birth into their chief’s bloodline, this tradition was threatened. Her and her brother were born twins, but sadly her brother doesn’t survive, leaving Pai as the only heir. Gathering all the firstborn boys of their tribe to learn how to be chief, they all go through training to be selected for such a great honor, and Paikea watches from the sidelines. Refusing to accept rejection she seeks the help of her uncle and grandmother to train her up well enough to compete against the boys and claim her place as chief.

When Pai dives into the ocean to retrieve an old necklace Paikea used to wear, she doesn’t resurface for a long while. Her uncle dives in after, unable to stay underwater as long, he flounders at the surface frantically looking for Pai until she pops up with a smile, the old necklace, and a lobster to eat. It is not only cheeky, but a perfect show of how resilient and strong she is and would be as a leader. The strongest women in leadership often started out as the most untamable girls. 

Caro directs beautifully with a diverse cast on every corner of the screen. Though Caro is “pakeha” (a New Zealander of European descent) she pursued writing and directing the film with the guidance of the Ngati Konohi tribe. Telling the story of a Māori little girl and her tribe, the film depicts honest culture and traditions.

Written by Witi Ihimaera and Kiki Caro, firstborn daughters will relate in a number of ways to Paikea. Inspirational and moving while showcasing Maori culture in a genuine way woven in an authentic story, Whale Rider is an absolute must watch.