The Whale Rider is a film based off the legend of Paikea. The film uses this subtext to portray the story of Paikea. The name Paikea is almost always associated with whales. According to the legend, Paikea was a famous whale rider. The name came from the whale that rescued him when he almost died due to an internal family conflict. As told by the legend, the whale took Paikea to the east coast of New Zealand where he became the founder of a Maori tribe. It is believed that Paikea is buried on a small island on the east coast of New Zealand.
*information about the legend of Paikea obtained from http://whales.fieldmuseum.org/behind/people/maori-whale-riders
The film itself does a really good job of incorporating the story of Paikea as well as different aspects of the Maori culture. It captures this story of Paikea because the character in the film is facing a lot of family conflict; she is a girl so she is less worthy compared to the boys in the family. She fights to prove herself and eventually becomes rescued by the whale that she rides. She is rescued from the inequality and the societal norms that are part of the Maori culture, simply because she is a girl. Her spirit lives on as she becomes the whale rider in her "new" life. It's also quite fitting that the director of the film named the character Paikea because this fits the legend perfectly.
This will be fun to write and read! You can think about ways that the Whale Rider tells the story, and perhaps ways that it subverts the story. Pay attention to film elements as well. Good work. Mimi
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