Whale Rider

This was an inspiring movie that everyone should watch. I made my friends whoever had not watched this movie to watch. This movie brought an intense message that everyone should practice in our daily life. This is a movie that show the importance of the gender equality and gender biasness should be eliminated and never being introduced anymore. This is because there are a lots of unwanted incidents are still happening due to gender biasness and stereotypes that were instilled in us since hundreds of years ago which still being practised. This is really sad. We as human beings need to pay attention on gender equality. Whereas should help women who are gentle and soft who produces all the living human beings to this world.  We should help them to pursue their dreams but not stop them.

In this movie the little girl who acted as Kahu Paikea Apirana had done a phenomenal job. In this movie the immediate aspect that I could connect since the beginning of the movie was on gender and social roles. Paikeas grandfather Koro who is a master he always restrict pai’s behaviour which is adventurous. He always never wanted pai to do stuffs that are only boys should do. Even though he loves Pai he was always in a denial state whenever Pai shows her ability to be a leader because of the gender and social roles that was set years ago and he still follows it. This turned the relationship between a grandfather and a granddaughter into a bitter one.  
Another will be social norms and expectation. The scene where Pai’s grandfather asked her to leave the spot just because she refused to sit behind as her grandfather’s instruction portrays the orthodox social norms in many cultures that actually controls females’ behaviour and activities in example girls should only sit behind on so on. This shows that the cultural beliefs are still strong and not changed according to the time frame where it is not so sensible for now because females started to achieve more than males. Chances should be given too everyone to explore and learn according to their wish. There should be no restrictions, stereotyping and discrimination on females. Another part which made me to think was when the grandfather actually warns paikea not to start the engine of the boat again. I could not actually digest that fact because It is not acceptable anymore because in this era such beliefs that Gender roles are being forced to be followed will not work. Now women are becoming pilots who handles aircrafts why not a boat? This also made me to think twice about the gender and social roles are still being followed in our cultures here in Malaysia.

As a whole “Whale Rider “ should be a must watch movies for growing girls and boys to be inspired and to be learn how to treat everyone fairly without difference in any way. Whereas for grown up people this should be a wakeup call for whoever are still living in a mindset which are no more acceptable in this 21st century.