[Sold Out] RCB Film Club: Whale Rider

Directed by Niki Carol

Duration: 1 Hr. 41 Mins.

Subtitles: English     

Kind Courtesy: Embassy of New Zealand

Date: Saturday 11 December 2021 at 4 p.m.

Venue: RCB Forum, 2nd floor, River City Bangkok

Tickets are available at https://www.ticketmelon.com/rivercitybangkok/newzealand

RCB Film Club’s Closing Film of the year, Whale Rider is a rare and remarkable film that centers around a Māori family living in a small coastal village in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Based on a book of the same name by Māori novelist, Witi Ihimaera, the film was shot in Whangara on New Zealand’s North Island-an area famous for its beautiful rugged coastline and rich Māori culture.

The film is set in a village where the local Māori people claimed descent from Paikea , the ‘Whale Rider’. In every generation, a male heir succeeded to this chief’s-title. 

The protagonist is 12-year-old Pai Apirana, whose grandfather, Koro, is the Village Rangatira (Chief). Koro is looking for the new chief who will lead the people. Although Pai feels it’s her destiny to take on the role, her grandfather is unable to accept a girl as a future leader. Instead, he teaches the traditional chants, rituals, and warrior techniques, to boys in the community, sure that the new leader will soon be revealed among them. 

But Paikea feels a strong kinship with the whales in the water. In one of the most memorable scenes in the film, she calls out to them, and they answer. She must face a thousand years of tradition, to fulfil her destiny. 

The film won more than 30 international awards, including at the top festivals of the world- the  People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, the Canal Plus Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

The 13-year-old actress who played the lead, Keisha Castle-Hughes, became the youngest actress to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

What the Critics said: 

Rolling Stone:  ‘Whale Rider‘ is a crowd-pleaser in the best sense of the word.

New York Times: Once the picture kicks into gear, it has the inspiring resonance of found art.

Washington  Post  : You can feel the power of myth in the very presence of these characters, who feel equally comfortable in the modern world and the world of their forefathers.

We thank the Embassy of New Zealand for supporting the film event.

Ms Mary Thurston, Chargée d’Affaires of the New Zealand Embassy, will introduce the film.

Don’t Miss RCB Film Club’s moving and memorable Closing Film of 2021.

Covid Instructions:

*All covid instructions will be strictly followed.

*Masks are necessary throughout the film-screening.

*Hand sanitiser will be provided at the entrance.

* Vaccinations are encouraged.

*If you feel unwell, please do not attend the screening.

*If anyone tests positive to covid, after attending the film-screening, please kindly inform RCB immediately, as this concerns the safety of the whole auditorium.

*Due to social distancing, the seating is very limited.*

For Enquiries: [email protected]

*River City Bangkok is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with strict preventive measures against Covid-19 and limitation of visitors inside RCB Forum.