On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea’s direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
Release Date: 29 August 2003Runtime: 101 min
Stars:
- Cliff Curtis
- Elizabeth Skeen
- Grant Roa
- Keisha Castle-Hughes
- Mabel Wharekawa
- Mana Taumaunu
- Rachel House
- Rawinia Clarke
- Rawiri Paratene
- Roi Taimana
- Tahei Simpson
- Tammy Davis
- Taungaroa Emile
- Tyronne White
- Vicky Haughton
Director: Niki Caro
