Whale Rider 20th Anniversary Screening

Whale Rider follows a young Māori girl, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), who challenges tradition and embraces the past to find the strength to lead her people forward.

At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother and the training of her uncle to claim her birthright as leader of her tribe. But to break with convention, she’ll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather.

Written and directed by Niki Caro, the movie is based on Witi Ihimaera’s novel The Whale Rider. Coupling a specific sense of place and culture with a universal coming-of-age story, Whale Rider became one of the most successful and beloved New Zealand films.

Released in Australia in 2003, we’re now celebrating its twentieth anniversary with a screening at Ku-ring-gai Library.

This film is rated PG for Parental Guidance.