This film is based the novel Whale Rider written by Witi Ihimaera. Paraiti is a Maori medicine woman during the early 20th century in New Zealand. She is a healing herbalist and a midwife for her rural tribal people and she believes in life. When she was a child, white men came to her village and killed the people. Paraiti was struck in the face by one of the men. She was unconscious but she lived and now she still has the scar. New laws enacted in 1907 are in force prohibiting unlicensed healers. Paraiti practices her healing in strict secrecy. Paraiti makes a rare trip to the city and she is approached by Maraea, she is the Maori servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca. The servant is seeking help for a miscarriage of the baby Rebecca is carrying. Paraiti, Maraea and Rebecca have a conflict of beliefs, there is deception and an ultimate conclusion.
Paraiti is grief stricken when she is approached by Maraea. One of the local young woman was taken to the doctors in town for the delivery of her baby. Both the young woman and her baby died. Paraiti believes she could have saved both their lives if she had been present at the birth. There is a clash in this community between the town people and the native people. The town people think they know everything but sometimes they are wrong!! There are some circumstances that I wasn't sure about until the end? 5* (I really liked this movie)
99 min, Drama directed and written by Dana Rotberg with Whirimakeo Black, Rachel House, Antonia Prebble, Nancy Brunning, Te Eaimarie Kessell, Kohuorangi Ta Whara, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Te Ahurei Rakuraku, Tahiti o the Rangi Trainor Tait. Kyle Pryor, Rawiri Waiariki.
Note: Imdb 6.9* out of 10* with 388 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 6 critics 56% with 66 audience scores.
Special Note: The setting of this film is in New Zealand. This film is the first feature made by Mexican writer-director Dana Rotberg and New Zealand is her adopted country.
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