When The One is a girl

Whale Rider's plot is very basic: Pai (the incredible Keisha Castle-Hughes, in a performance that will be remembered for a long time to come) is born a girl in a family that thinks only a BOY is fit to lead in the warrior/chief tradition. Her grandfather is disgusted that she lived while her twin brother died at birth and he cruelly rejects his granddaughter, who is indeed The One, as she demonstrates at every turn. We know early on in the film what the bottom line will be: Pai will somehow rise above this pathetic negativity to claim her birthright, and her close-minded grandfather will eventually come to realize that his 'worthless' granddaughter is indeed The One. What makes the film great is in watching HOW this basic plot unfolds.

Castle-Hughes is a revelation in this movie, truly a find. She conveys deep, deep conviction in every scene, allowing everyone in the theatre to truly feel her anguish -- not only is she barred from learning the skills the (sadly pathetic) boys are being taught by her grandfather and not only is she told at every turn that she has no business following her own deeply-felt instincts, she is also made to apologize for HAVING those instincts; basically she is made to apologize (over and over and over again) for being who she is, for even being born. It is emotionally satisfying beyond all measure, then, when, towards the film's climax, she does what only she can do.