I have a headache from crying in the movies.

[prillalar]

Finally, finally I've been to see Whale Rider.

The story was simple and predictable for the most part, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I don't need shocking twists. I need good storytelling and powerful performances and Whale Rider certainly delivered. I was frankly amazed at Keshia Castle-Hughes -- how can she be so good so young?

Yes, I cried. I'm not a fan of "feel-good" movies or films that try to manipulate me to tears. But this didn't feel like that at all. It was an honest story and so it brought out honest reactions. The scene at the school concert, with Koro's empty chair -- and he never shows up -- I may cry again, just writing about it.

I think my favourite character was Rawiri, the uncle. I loved the way he rediscovered himself through Pai. I loved seeing him take charge to help the whales, then comforting one of the men when one of the whales died. Also I loved his toque.

The ending was very satisfying, but I do confess that part of me wishes it had ended with the shot of Pai letting go of the whale and being swept away.

Comments

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I loved the film. Gorgeous. I know what you mean about thinking a sad ending would not have been wrong, although I DEFINITELY would have been shrieking if they'd made that choice. Besides, we'd never have gotten to hear the great line, "If the little one lives, I swear I'll give up smoking."

[prillalar]

I want to see it all over again now. Next time, I'll bring Kleenex.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

It was *so* very good, wasn't it? When her dad was there among the guys at the end, I was so happy!

I cry at movies at the drop of a minor chord, and it always makes me mad when it's because of cheapjack manipulation and not real human emotion. This one earned the tears.

[prillalar]

I wished we'd had a little more about her dad. He broke my heart at the beginning, poor man. And I loved his long hair.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

Yeah--that actor was so of the pretty! Maybe the book has more about him.

[sophia-helix.livejournal.com]

I really can't make up my mind about that movie. On the one hand, my gut instinct is "great movie," because it feels, at heart, like real art; honest, truthful, real. On the other hand, I didn't much like the ending as it stood -- Koro can't accept her until a divine intervention -- but, while I would have liked the bravery of a sad ending with her death, the message of "Pai could never be accepted and thus had to die" is just as unsettling. So an ending with her riding off on the whale like her ancestor, looking for a new land, or one in which she herself is able to convince Koro, not the whales, would have made me happier.

I still cried at the concert hall scene.

.m

[prillalar]

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's hard to say what would have been the best ending. But yet, there are some people who cannot be convinced except by something like this.

For Koro to accept Pai as leader without the divine intervention would have meant he was giving up the divine and I don't see how he could have done that. I wish we'd known more about his own conflict.

It's interesting -- I read recently that even in the scientific community, where you would expect that new data and evidence would convince people of new ideas regardless, new theories and ideas only really take hold as the older scientists die off. As it is with cultural things.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

I have not yet seen it. *sigh* Am always so behind on movies.