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, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea’s direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
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Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Paikea Apirana: Keisha Castle-Hughes
• Koro: Rawiri Paratene
• Nanny Flowers: Vicky Haughton
• Porourangi: Cliff Curtis
• Uncle Rawiri: Grant Roa
• Hemi: Mana Taumaunu
• Shilo: Rachel House
• Willie: Taungaroa Emile
• Dog: Tammy Davis
• Maka: Mabel Wharekawa
• Miro: Rawinia Clarke
• Miss Parata: Tahei Simpson

Film Crew:

• Original Music Composer: Lisa Gerrard
• Director: Niki Caro
• Author: Witi Ihimaera
• Producer: John Barnett
• Director of Photography: Leon Narbey
• Editor: David Coulson
• Producer: Tim Sanders
• Producer: Frank Hübner

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