Whale of a Time

From Australia comes a rare diamond amongst the coal of the usual Hollywood fare that floods the megaplexes during the long days of summer. The film, Whale Rider, tells the story of a people and their culture struggling to maintain a timeworn tradition against the temptations of a modern age. Their leader, an aging Maori chief named Koro, clings to the ways of the ancients as a guide for his people. While those around him struggle to incorporate their native past into a cosmopolitan present, occasionally slipping into lifestyles of comfort and drug use, Koro struggles to keep the Maori way alive. In the end, it is his granddaughter, the surviving twin of a newborn who was to be the savior of their people, who believes in the value of her culture, and in so doing is able to rally and lead the village into a brighter future.

It is films like Whale Rider that are able to remind us about what cinema can be. Especially during a summer of seemingly endless sequels, retreads and utterly flawed failures, the current selection of foreign and indie films can provide a jaunt away from the ordinary and into the depths of human emotion and interaction. Placing their faith in character development, dialogue and sparkling direction rather than star power and special effects, gems such as Whale Rider make summer at the movies something worth savoring.