Plot
Characters
Themes
Film Techniques
Mixed Bag
100
Which event does NOT occur in the film?
1. Pai's mother dies
2. Pai goes fishing with her father
3. Koro finds the whales on the beach.
2. Pai goes fishing with her father
100
Why is Pai nor respected by her Grandfather Koro?
She is female and going against his belief/tradition that only males can be chief of the village.
100
List 3 themes from the film
Leadership
Gender Roles
Change/ Development
Generational Expectations
Relationship with the Natural Environment
Achievement
Working Together
Traditions
100
List 3 different camera shots
Long shot, extreme long shot, mid shot, close up, extreme close up, etc.
100
Unscramble the following to find the hidden words.
hleaW dRire
Whale Rider
200
What is the effect/ purpose of Paikea’s voice over?
The purpose of the voice over is to inform us of what happened back when Pai was born. It also shows us why Pai and Koro's relationship is the way it is. It also gives background information surrounding the traditions and beliefs in Maori culture.
200
When does Koro realise that Pai is Paikea, the ‘Whale Rider’?
When Nanny Flowers gives him the whale tooth.
200
Draw an images that represents the following theme:
Working Together
200
What is the effect/ purpose of a high angle shot.
Make the characters seem small and insignificant.
200
Identify two symbols in the film.
There are two major symbols in the film – the waka (canoe) and the rope.
300
Describe the conclusion of the film.
Pai wears the whale tooth as a symbol that she is the new chief (next in line). Pai and her Grandfather Koro sit together on the now finished waka. Pai is chanting - leading the group. The community is all working together now that there is a new tradition.
300
Identify the characters that say each quote:
1. ______________ My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs.
2. ____________“Her name is Paikea.”
__________“No, not that name.”
3. ________ A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe…until now.”
4. _____________“You might be the boss out there, but I’m the boss in this kitchen”
5. ____________ “You don’t mess around with sacred things”
1. Paikea : My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs.
2. Porourangi: “Her name is Paikea.”
Koro: “No, not that name.”
3. Paikea: A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe…until now.”
4. Nanny Flowers: “You might be the boss out there, but I’m the boss in this kitchen”
5. Koro: “You don’t mess around with sacred things”
300
Theme: Relationship to the natural environment.
Discuss why the whale is considered to be such a strong symbol of nature.
According to legend, Paikea came to New Zealand from the Pacific Islands on the back of a whale many centuries ago. This makes the whale an important symbol.
300
Identify the camera angle that has been used in each of the following images.
1. 
2.
3. 
4. 
1. High angle shot
2. Mid shot
3. Extreme close up
4. Low angle shot
300
Describe how Pai’s Grandfather (Koro) and Pai change over the course of the film.
Koro changes his opinion and Pai is able to become the next chief.
Pai develops her skills to become chief.
400
Fill in the blanks in this summary so that it is true. Your answer should state the words from the word bank in the order they appear in the passage.
Koro thinks that Pai is ____________ luck for his tribe. He gives all the firstborn ____________ in the village training. He teaches them tribal ______________ and warrior ____________. He wants to find the future leader of the tribe.
WORD BANK: skills, boys, traditions, bad
bad, boys, traditions, skills
Koro thinks that Pai is bad luck for his tribe. He gives all the firstborn boys in the village training. He teaches them tribal traditions and warrior skills. He wants to find the future leader of the tribe.
400
Select 1 character from the film and describe their physical appearance, personality and relationship to one other character.
Paikea
He has short brown hair, medium height and a small build. She has a strong personality as she fights against her grandfathers expectations. Her relationship with her Grandfather is sometimes negative as she does not always follow what he says.
400
Select 2 of the following events and describe how they could be examples of Pai’s natural ability to lead?
•Pai telling Nanny Flowers off for smoking
•Pai fixing the rope
•Pai learning about her culture
•Pai participating in the life of the community
Pai fixing the rope - she is a natural born leader. She takes it upon herself to complete tasks and get things fixed.
Pai telling Nanny Flowers off for smoking - Pai feels comfortable taking a leadership role. She does not shy away from telling people off based on what she believes is right.
400
Identify 4 different camera angles used in this scene.
1. Extreme close up
2. Long shot
3. High angle shot.
4. Close up
400
Define the following terms:
1. Waka
2. Tapu
3. Rangatiratanga
4. Marae
1. Canoe
2. Sacred
3. Chief
4. Sacred place used for meetings and worship
500
Place the following events in the order in which they appear in the film (You only need to write the numbers in order).
1. Porourangi’s wife and the baby boy die.
2. Porourangi returns home after 12 years.
3. Porourangi has twins, a boy and a girl.
4. Porourangi names the girl Paikea after the ancestor who rode the whale.
5. Pai lives with her grandparents, Koro and Nanny Flowers.
6. Porourangi is angry with Koro, and leaves.
3, 1, 4, 6, 5, 2
3. Porourangi has twins, a boy and a girl.
1. Porourangi’s wife and the baby boy die.
4. Porourangi names the girl Paikea after the ancestor who rode the whale.
6. Porourangi is angry with Koro, and leaves.
5. Pai lives with her grandparents, Koro and Nanny Flowers.
2. Porourangi returns home after 12 years.
500
List the names of the following characters
Rawiri, Poro, Paikea and Koro
500
Select 1 theme and describe how it is shown in the film.
Leadership
Gender Roles
Change/ Development
Generational Expectations
Relationship with the Natural Environment
Achievement
Working Together
Traditions
Gender Roles
Koro has very strict ideas about gender roles and traditions within his society. He believes that only MALES can become Chief.
500
Draw and example of a:
1. Close up
2. Extreme close up
3. Mid shot
4. Long shot
For the images to be correct you must have:
1. Just the face in the frame
2. A feature of the face in the frame
3. A shot from the middle of a person upwards.
4. The full body and background in the shot.
500
Are the following statements true or false
1. The film goes for 1hr 37min
2. The whales in the movie are a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI.
3. None of the extras are residents of Whangara, the filming location.
4. The film is not based on a novel
5. At her audition, Keisha Castle-Hughes (Pai) told casting directors that she could swim. When it came time to film the swimming scenes, she admitted she couldn't swim.
1. True
2. True
3. False All of the extras are residents of Whangara, the filming location.
4. False
5. True