Whale Rider (2003)

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PG-13 | 1 hr 45 mins | Drama, Romance, Foreign | Released: 6/6/2003 |Box Office Total: $20.7M

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Synopsis:

On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs have always been the first-born and male. Many generations later, the contemporary tale revolves around a young mother whose male newborn twin dies in childbirth. Her young husband flees New Zealand in grief, leaving grandparents Koro and Nanny Flowers to raise the sole survivor, a feisty little girl named Pai, who radiates with life and energy. It’s no wonder that her grandmother and the entire community love her, but alas, the grandfather she worships is too busy mourning the loss of the baby boy he expected would lead the tribe to better days.

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Full Cast & Crew

Theatrical Release
6/6/2003

Director	Credit
Niki Caro	Director
Cast	Credit
Keisha Castle-Hughes	Paikea
Rawiri Paratene	Koro
Vicky Haughton	Nanny Flowers
Cliff Curtis	Porourangi
Rawinia Clarke	Miro
Tammy Davis	Willie
Grant Roa	Rawiri
Mana Taumaunu	Henri
Tyronne White	Jake
Taupuru Whakataka-Brightwell	Ropata
Tenia McClutchie-Mita	Wiremu
Rachel House	Shilo
Mabel Wharekawa-Burt	Maka
Tahei Simpson	Miss Parata
Aomuri Parata-Haua	Baby Paikea
Roimata Taimana	Rewi
Elizabeth Skeen	Rehua
Pura Tangira	Driver
John Sumner	Doctor
Sam Woods	Young Rawiri
Keriana Thomson	Rehua's Aunty
Peter Patuwai	Bubba, Wanaga Boy
Rutene Spooner	Parekura, Wananga Boy
Riccardo Davis	Maui, Wananga Boy
Apiata Whangapirita-Apanui	Henare, Wananga Boy
Heema Taumaunu	Fisherman
Production Credits	Credit
Tim Sanders	Producer
Reinhard Brundig	Co-Producer
Witi Ihimaera	Associate Producer
Bill Gavin	Executive Producer
John Barnett	Producer
Linda Goldstein-Knowlton	Executive Producer
Frank Hubner	Producer
Production Companies	Credit
Pandora Film	Production Company
Apollo Media	Production Company
South Pacific Pictures	Production Company
Distribution Companies	Credit
Newmarket Films	Domestic Theatrical Distributor
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment	Domestic Video Distributor
Graena Ljosid EHF	Foreign Theatrical Distributor
Locations
New Zealand
Writer	Credit
Witi Ihimaera	Source Material
Niki Caro	Screenplay
Robert Sarkies	Story Editor - Script Editor
Animal Training Handling	Credit
Karen Hawkyard	Animal Wrangler
Art Department	Credit
Kerry Dunn	Scenic Artist
Guy Moana	Concept Artist - Maori Design/Carvings
Grace Mok	Art Director
Brett Graham	Sculptor - Porourangi's Sculpture
Maka Makatoa	Storyboard Artist
Grant Major	Production Designer
Bernard Makoare	Concept Artist - Reiputa Designer
Casting	Credit
Diana Rowan	Casting
Christina Asher	Casting - Additional Casting
Stuart Turner	Casting - Additional Casting
Karen Sydney	Casting - Additional Casting
Film Camera	Credit
Rhys Duncan	Steadicam Operator
Sigmund Spath Jr	Photography
Leon Narbey	Director of Photography
Kevin Riley	Camera Operator
Kevin Riley	Camera Operator (2nd Unit)
Armie Armstrong	Camera Operator
Film Sales Financing	Credit
NRW Filmstiftung	Co-Financier
New Zealand Film	Co-Financier
New Zealand On the Air	Co-Financier
Orfeo Films	Foreign Distribution Sales
Music	Credit
International Observer	Song Performer
Simon Bowley	Score Mixing - Music Mixer
Ricky Edwards	Music Engineer - Technical Music Support
Chris Gough	Music Supervisor
Lisa Gerrard	Music
Hirini Melbourne	Music Performer
Pitch Black	Song Performer
Jacek Tushewski	Music Engineer - Technical Music Support
Richard Nunns	Music Performer
Decepikonz	Song Performer
Nick Theobald	Song Performer
Physical Effects	Credit
Mark Harris	Stunt Coordinator
Justin Buckingham	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Barry Down	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Jason Michael Knox-Johnston	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Steve Young	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Steve Dyson	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Terry Green	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Greg Nichols	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Dean Taylor	Animatronics - Whale Construction
John Lott	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Steve Lowe	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Dan Blanchard	Animatronics - Whale Construction
Production Management	Credit
Liz Tan	Assistant Director
Kathleen Thomas	Continuity
Podge Preston	Location Manager
Janet McIver	Production Manager
Peter Moerenhout	Unit Manager
Reinhild Graber	Production Supervisor - Supervising Producer
Moira Grant	Production Coordinator
Anne Urban	Post-Production Supervisor
Laura Fong	Production Coordinator
Neil James	Assistant Director
Rudolf Kurz	Production Supervisor - Supervising Producer
Mike Turner	Unit Manager (2nd Unit)
Michelle Sowman	Assistant Director
Camelija Karlic	Production Coordinator
Anna Gundesen	Assistant Director (2nd Unit)
Sound	Credit
Josef Steinbuchel	Sound Design
Josef Steinbuchel	Sound Effects
Chris Burt	ADR Supervisor
Torus Koln	Foley Recordist
Wilmont Schulze	Foley Editor
Stephan Colli	Sound Supervisor
Dave Madigan	Sound Recordist
Stefan Korte	Rerecording Mixer
Mirko Reinhard	Sound Design
Mirko Reinhard	Sound Effects
Markus Wimmer	Sound Design
Markus Wimmer	Sound Effects
Stephan Colli	Sound Design - Atmos Design
Andre Zimmermann	Sound Design - Atmos Design
Visual Effects	Credit
James Mok	Titles - Titles Design
Phil Addenbrook	Special Effects - Physical Effects
Phil Addenbrook	Special Effects Technician - Marine Engineer
Dean Clark	Special Effects - Physical Effects
Dean Clark	Special Effects Technician - Marine Engineer
Oliver Gee	Special Effects - Physical Effects
Oliver Gee	Special Effects Technician - Marine Engineer
Wardrobe Hair Makeup	Credit
Kirsty Cameron	Costume Designer
Denise Kum	Hair - Hair Supervisor
Denise Kum	Makeup Supervisor

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