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Symbolism In Whale Rider

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WHALE RIDER

The film ‘whale rider; was directed by Niki Caro. The story is a representation of the importance of tradition and ancestry. Symbolism is used in this film to help to show the importance of the community they live in and the elders and ancestors that have helped to build and structure their religion and the people that live within the community. The symbols that will best represent the importance of the film are the whale tooth, the bike and the windows.

The whale tooth is a very significant representation of ancestry and leadership. The whale tooth is a large part of ‘whale rider’ as it is connected or linked to many other important events and people that play a large part in the film. The whale tooth is a representation of the Maori people who shaped and built their religion and community, as well as being a representation of Paikea and many other traits that would be needed by a chief, many of which, Paikea has.

The bike is a significant representation of the relationship between Koro and Paikea and the safety that he provides her. In the movie, the first scene we are shown outside of the hospital is a scene of Koro and Paikea on the bike. This instantly shows the connection and relationship that the two share and the importance of the bike in the film. Throughout …show more content…

In many scenes, Paikea can be seen looking through windows and peeking around walls as she has been separated from the other training chiefs, but doesn’t want to miss out on any opportunities. She has been told that she is not an eligible chief as she is a girl but she is determined to prove Koro and the rest of the village wrong. Although she has been isolated from the rest of the group, she uses the windows to her advantage and peers through them to learn and master the same skills that are being taught to the male candidates for the next chief of the Maori

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