Whale Rider

In the old days, the land felt a great emptiness.

It was waiting...

waiting to be filled up...

waiting for someone to love it...

waiting for a leader.

And he came on the back

of a whale...

a man to lead a new people.

Our ancestor, Paikea.

But now we were waiting

for the firstborn of the new generation...

for the descendant

of the whale rider...

- For the boy who would be chief.

Paikea.

Paikea.

There was no gladness

when i was born.

My twin brother died

and took our mother with him.

Rawiri.

Everyone was waiting

for the firstborn boy to lead us...

but he died...

and i didn't.

Where is the boy?

Son.

- What's done is done. Come home.

Come home.

Start again.

You mean just pretend

it didn't happen.

- That's not what i'm saying.

- You didn't even look at her, dad!

She died.

- Son...

- no, no, no!

No. No, all you want

is your boy.

- It's all right.

- That's all you want. Isn't it?

- You can start again.

- Hey, i've got a child.

Her name's Paikea.

- What?

- You heard me.

No. Not that name.

- It's Paikea.

- No!

Porourangi...

porourangi.

Porourangi!

Take her away.

- I told you to take her away.

No. You acknowledge

your granddaughter.

She likes you.

He'll have another child.

He just lost a child and a wife.

Isn't that enough?

You give that boy some time.

You hear me?

He'll be back

when he's ready.

Stupid old paka.

You say the word,

and i'll get a divorce, bub.

Just say the word.

- What'd he say to her?

- Same old story.

Not good enough

for him, is she?

He start that early

with me?

You're a man.

You can handle it.

Here. Better get used to it.

This one's gonna need someone

to look out for her.

Yeah. All right.

My koro wished

in his heart that i'd never been born...

but he changed his mind.

- Hey! You old paka!

Quick!

They were quick.

Must have let them off early or something.

- You've been smoking.

- Says you.

Maori women have got

to stop smoking.

We've got to protect

our childbearing properties.

You coming

to the concert?

- Might.

- Bet she's got her best gears

all laid out on the bed.

- My dad's coming.

- Nay? Better get my flash dress out then.

How long's he staying this time?

Five minutes?

Longer than that.

That's good, 'cause i blinked

and missed him last time.

What time's the concert, bub?

Gee, she's bossy,

that one.

And you'd have to be smoking in a pretty funny

place to wreck your childbearing properties.

If you ask me the name of this house,

i will tell you.

It is whitireia.

And the carved figurehead at the top?

It is Paikea. It is Paikea.

- No good to you, you reckon?

- Shh!

- What are they feeding you?

- You look different.

- Hmm. You do too. Must be growing up.

- Am not.

- Sorry i was late.

- It doesn't matter. It was stink anyway.

Oh.

Gotta look my best for your brother.

- Hey, bro.

- Rawiri?

- Good to see you, man.

- Yeah, put on a bit of weight

since i saw you last time.

- Yeah.

Hey, this is

my new lady.

- Kia ora.

- Kia ora.

How many of my sons

you need, girl?

Give us a hand with the food.

Make yourself useful.

You too, Pai.

Come on, mate.

Let these important guys have their talk, eh?

Take your time.

They've been

waiting for you.

Been a while

this time, son.

Been away.

Didn't you get any of my postcards?

Your mother put something on the fridge.

I don't know what it was. A bridge or something.

France, probably.

I've been spending

a bit of time in germany too.

- Like you there, do they?

- Some of them do.

- So, you've been busy, then?

- Yeah. Yeah, it's been good.

You know, i got a gallery interested.

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