Points to Observe:
1. How the culture has been portrayed
2. Apparent discourses (consider that they may be stereotypical of a certain group)
3. Is the portrayal of the focus group accurate? (Observe and analyse characters and their actions)
4. How has the Film Director positioned the audience?
Setting:
· East Coast New Zealand
· Focuses on Maori Culture/Traditions/Beliefs
· Main focus on Whangara people
Plot:
Paikea, a young girl, born into a Maori culture, believes that she was born to become the next leader for her people. However, her grandfather traditionally believes that only males are capable of fulfilling this role. Hence, the story shows Paikea’s journey in her fight to become her people’s new leader.
Cast:
· Paikea – Young girl
· Koro – Paikea’s Grandfather
· Nanny Flowers – Paikea’s Grandmother
· Porourangi – Paikea’s Father
· Uncle Rawiri – Paikea’s Uncle
· Hemi – Paikea’s Friend
· Roimata – Hemi’s Father
Themes/Discourses:
· Family
· Gender Roles
· Culture/religion
· History
· Generation Gap
· Tradition
· Role Models
· Human Vs Nature
· Education Vs Family/Community
· Self-Identity
· Leadership
General Notes (Each one can be classified in demonstrating a discourse):
· Koro was unable to start motor; rope broke; Paikea tied it back together and started the motor; Koro shouts at Pai – symbolic of the fact that he refuses to believe that Pai is capable of being the new leader
· Koro states that his grandaughter is “no use to him”; apparent that the Maori culture prizes males
· Koro says, “When she was born, that’s when things went wrong for us.” (referring to Paikea, loss of grandson and no leader)
· Koro blames Paikea for him being unable to select a new male leader to lead his people out of the darkness.
· Finding the new leader: Koro drops a pendent into deep ocean water; whichever boy returns it is the one; no one manages to retrieve it; Koro is saddened as he has failed in his mission to find the leader for his people.
· Due to the conflict, Pikea’s Grandmother decides that it’s best if she moves out
· In Koro’s failure and depression, he calls to whale for help – no use as they do not appear to answer his call
· Pikea also calls; they hear her
· Whilst sailing on the ocean with Uncle Rawiri, Paikea decides to dive into the water in an attempt to retrieve the pendent, deposited there by Koro
· Paikea succeeds and retrieves the pendant; becomes evident that she is the one
· Koro hears whales calling; heads to beach
· Koro arrives at the beach, sees whale washed up on shore, “Who is to blame?”
· Paikea had called to the whales, they answered her call, but now they were dying
· Paikea’s whale (their ancestor) had come to them because they were in trouble
· Paikea tries to help by touching the whale
· After hours trying to save the whale, it sinks to the ground
· Paikea approaches whale, touches it, whale lifts up out of water and heads to deeper part of the ocean
· Family returns to observe Paikea riding the whale – goes out into deep waters where she is nowhere to be seen; family believe that she is dead
· Paikea is saved; Koro realises that Paikea is the one; she is announced as the new leader and begins to lead the people into a new future
Music:
· Varied throughout to add feeling to a scene i.e. create happiness or sadness
· The use of whale music is popular in film to add to atmosphere and sometimes, to create mystery
