Whale Rider - 20th Anniversary

1h 41m • Drama, Family • 2003

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Niki Caro’s Whale Rider.

Based on Witi Ihimaera’s novel ‘The Whale Rider’, the film is a contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfil a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognise.

Keisha Castle-Hughes portrayal of Pai, earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2004, making her at the time the youngest ever person to be nominated in this category. Whale Rider also stars Cliff Curtis, Rachel House, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Grant Roa and Mana Taumaunu.

The film originally premiered at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival and the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, before opening in select US theatres in the summer of 2003. Madman Films is re-releasing the 20th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray this year.