Prompt One
Whales are incredibly important in this film. Discuss how they are used and needed throughout both symbolically and plotwise.
Prompt Two
How do the traditional gender roles impact the men and the women in the film? What argument is Witi Ihimaera making about gender within his own culture?
Prompt Three
How do we know Pai is meant to be chief? What qualities does she possess and signs do we see that mean she should be the one to lead her people forward?
Prompt Four
Overall is what does the film show you about the impact of colonization on the Maori iwi in the film?? What solutions are suggested by the film for finding a positive way forward? What do you think of those solutions? (PS “iwi” means a specific group of people, a community.)
Prompt Five
What connections are there between Okonkwo, in Things Fall Apart, and Koro in Whale Rider? What do we find and understand when we look at these two characters together?