I want to avoid putting a knock on a family friendly movie but this picture didn't quite do it for me. If not for the resilience and determination of young Paikea (Keisha Castle-Hughes),I'm not sure there's much going on in the story to recommend it as family fare. Her grandfather Koro (Rawiri Paratene),if portrayed in an American film, would have been considered a classic male chauvinist, while her own father Porourangi (Cliff Curtis) demonstrated the utmost in cowardly behavior by fleeing the scene following the death of his wife in childbirth. Not to mention Koro's dismissive behavior in shunning the young boy Hemi (Mana Taumaunuwhen) because he was bested by Paikei in that stick contest. These were just a couple of horrible examples I would point out that don't deserve to be role modeled in a purportedly family picture.

The only other character besides Paikea I could positively relate to was Uncle Rawiri (Grant Roa),who took her under his roof and behaved in a manner befitting a responsible adult whenever he saw something amiss around him. As for the young Keisha Castle-Hughes, I thought she did a credible job in her role as Paikea, with a compassion and love for her grandfather that transcended his rude behavior and brought the story to a positive conclusion. However one has to interpret her ride on the whale as somewhat allegorical. It was not as mystical and fun filled in the way the movie's advance would make you suspect.

The Maori are a people with a long tradition going back generations... starting with the "whale rider" who brought his people to the island they live on now, descended up through the current chief. But the chief's first born son has moved away and abandoned Maori principles. And when his wife has a child, it is a girl. The chief must turn to outside his family to find a suitable new chief while his granddaughter is ready, willing and able.

I watched this movie with my friend Chelsea and we looked at it from two very different angles. She sees it as a break from tradition, a new generation adapting the old principles to their own culture. A new world where a woman is capable of being chief. And I certainly see that as the primary story, where the young girl is subjected to torment from her grandfather (who is loving but comes across as a cruel, inhuman beast at times).

But I also tried to put myself in the chief's shoes. Was he a misogynist? Perhaps, though I don't think so. He had the weight of tradition on his shoulders, he had an entire race of people depending on him to keep the lineage intact and culture strong. And he firmly believed that this was how the elders wanted things to be. Compare this to many Christian religions that have only male elders -- while the followers may be accepting of women (and outsiders strongly encourage their acceptance) when your deity tells you to do things a certain way, what choice do you have? Granted, the chief should have seen the signs, but tradition is strong.

Did the young actress deserve an Oscar nomination for this film? It's debatable. The film was pretty good, and her acting was pretty phenomenal for someone so young. Sure, she didn't do her on swimming scenes, but she produced the tears and those stoic looks. And, as I couldn't stop noticing, she definitely deserved an Oscar for "best hair". (It's interesting to notice all the islanders are very native-looking, but she looks glamorous even as a child).

For a story of a people who must abandon tradition and accept the new order, this is pretty good. And being the Maori, it's especially powerful. Fewer and fewer native peoples are retaining their traditions, so it's both welcoming and sad to see one of the last hangers-on experience a paradigm shift.

Paikea Apirana (Keisha Castle-Hughes) lost her mother during her twin brother's birth. She lost both her mother and twin brother. Her father Porourangi (Cliff Curtis) runs away in grief. Her grandfather Koro is left to raise Paikea despite blaming her for the tragedy. Koro hopes to pass the traditional leadership to Porourangi but he leaves for Germany to do his art. He has a pregnant girlfriend there. Traditionally, the Whangara people comes from the first Paikea who arrived on the back of a whale. From then one, chiefs are first born male direct descendants of Paikea. Koro opposes any attempts by little Paikea to be in anything other than a traditional female role. Koro tries to train the village boys and keep Paikea out.

This is a traditional underdog girl trying to be a leader in a man's world. Cliff Curtis is the movie star. Keisha Castle-Hughes is the endearing newcomer. Rawiri Paratene is the key. He's the villain but he cannot be so simple. His struggles have to be relateable. He's battling the end of a way of life. It has a beautiful magical ending.