|
 Through
the eyes of director Niki Caro, the words of author
Witi Ihimaera, and the music of composer Lisa Gerrard,
this film creates a mythological world rarely so
beautifully and realistically portrayed on the big
screen. The creation myth for this particular Maori
tribe relates the journey of the ancestor Paikea, who
was so weary crossing the ocean to their future home
that he required the assistance of a whale to carry
him to safety. It is this unbreakable connection to
the surrounding ocean beasts and to the tribe's male
ancestry that the current leader, Koro, depends upon
without question and without option for alternatives,
in order that his tribe may continue to prosper. When
his people begin to loose faith and interest in their
culture, only an extreme event can open his eyes to
the changing world. When his son's wife dies in
childbirth and the surviving heir twin is not male,
Koro's headstrong beliefs blind him to the miracles
that present themselves. Pulled straight from the
school yard is newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes,
portraying the unwanted descendant Piakea (named for
the first ancestor) with purity and determination. The
supporting cast of native New Zealanders are
wonderfully natural and heartfelt in their examination
of the clash of traditions versus modern distractions,
and of individual leaders versus group strength. The
DVD extras are well done and enlightening, including
trailers, deleted scenes with commentary, a
featurette, a feature on building the film's war
canoe, soundtrack selections, a photo gallery, audio
commentary by the director, and an Easter egg of
Castle-Hughes' impressive audition tape.
- DN
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