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Author
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Comment
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Charles Vess
Unregistered User
(11/13/03 9:57 am)
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WHALE RIDER: the book and the movie
I just finished reading the book, THE WHALE RIDER after having seen the movie version twice. I am very excited about the narrative space created between the two forms as they rubbed shoulder in a extremely companionable way. Although there are many, many divergencies in details between the book and the movie, their social import and theme are dead on the same. And because both of these mediums arrive at exactely the same end spot, although on slightly different paths, they have created, for me anyway, a 'third' entity in that small space left between. The effect is really quite exhilarating and I don't think that I've ever encountered it in the same way before. Either the equation between book and movie is so totaly divergent that they are two entirely different beasts (The Wizard of Oz) or in a very, very few instances they are exactly the same (The Night of the Hunter).
I'm am very curious to read more of the author, Witi Ihimaera, books. Has anyone on this board done so?
Best,
Charles
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Celestial
Registered User
(11/13/03 4:57 pm)
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Whale Rider
My understanding is that Witi Ihimaera's Whale Rider (1986) was the first Maori novel to be published in New Zealand. I don't know of any other novels by him, but I saw the film and it was like nothing I have ever seen before.
Here is an article I found that mentions the writer in the first paragraph, which I reproduce below ...
www.imdb.com/Reviews/351/35190
In the summer of 1986, when Maori writer Witi Ihimaera was serving in Manhattan as New Zealand's Consul General, an errant whale took a wrong turn and wandered up the Hudson River. It put Ihimaera in mind of an ancient legend from his home half a world away, about a chief who rode in from the sea on the back of a whale, and began the proud lineage of Whangara chiefs descending through the firstborn son. Inspired by his teenaged daughters, Ihimaera put a feminist spin on the old story, and wrote a best-selling novel, Whale Rider. "Having a girl ride the whale, which is also a symbol of patriarchy," says Ihimaera, "was my sneaky literary way of socking it to the guy thing."
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Charles vess
Unregistered User
(11/13/03 5:51 pm)
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Novels by Witi Ihimaera
I agree the story (either book or movie) is a brilliant use of mythic themes speaking dirrectly to contemporary concerns. The non-use of any CGI effects is both refreshing and totally convincing, showing the "unseen" world that surrounds us all in a magicaly poetic way. Much like Peter Weir's movie THE LAST WAVE of many years ago.
There are 7 novels listed in the front matter of the WHALE RIDER book: TANGI, WHANAU, THE MATRIARCH, BUBLIBASHA, KING OF THE GYPSIES, NIGHTS IN THE GARDEN'S OF SPAIN, THE DREAM SWIMMER and THE UNCLE'S STORY as well as several short story collections, assorted nonfiction and one children's picture book (THE LITTLE KOWHAI TREE). I guess I need to look them up on Amazon or some such...
Best,
Charles
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