Whale Rider (2002)

Do you believe in magic? 

In this movie, I find it a miracle that one is chosen to talk to spirited one's. For me it is like when an individual, is chosen to be a superhero. In the episode series, the flash, he believe he is the chosen one by the lightning and do goods to save the world and whoever is in trouble. Whereby, in this movie, we can see that a leader is also to be chosen to lead. At the start, "there was no gladness when I was born" was when Pai twin brother died with her mother. As a grandfather, he was very upset and was not happy about it as the hope of a leader is lost. Koro then ask his son to "kill" the baby as he was not proud to have a girl to continue the "heir" from a leader family. 

     Gender bias and inequality was being shown from the start to the beginning. Pai and the grandfather Koro was always seen arguing. We also can see that Pai love his grandparents more than anything but eventually then it comes to something important, a leader have to be chosen at that time. Koro is the leader in his culture Maori and at that period of time was the time of choosing a new leader as he was getting old. Therefore he started training the youngsters and choose a leader. Pai wanted to take part in the leadership training but traditionally girls cannot be a leader. This is where we seen Pai and Koro argue with one another. Pai did not give up in practicing to be a leader as probably he had an inner voice telling her to do so. She then ask for her uncle help to train her to beat Hemi in the Taiaha fight. 

     After 3 years as I was back from Australia at standard 6, I had to adapt to the culture at Malaysia. I can say that there is a difference between there and here. Malaysia have a hectic kind of days where there is a lot of homework and exercise but not in Australia. So I believe that adaptation is also important follow my time as changes are meant to keep up to the world today. Even though it is hard to accept, but as long you believe in yourself anything is possible. Whereby for Koro in the movie, he should believe in his family and be open so that regret should never be seen. I believe it is hard to accept in a traditional family, but things are fated and probably a sign of something greater. 

     As she was the chosen one, many youngsters had failed the task given by Koro. This was when Koro lost hope and felt sad. To me, Pai role was to tell the audience that rules can be broken to make a change. Pai character is shown to prove that every males and females are the same, what males are able to do, females can do too, or probably better. It is to break the stereotype and prejudice of a female to the audience and change a perspective in see-ing thing differently.