While the Lord of the Rings has done wonders promoting New Zealand's physical features, it's a film made for a fraction of the cost about a little girl and a big whale that has done the job on our nation's soul.
Niki Caro's Whale Rider, adapted from Witi Ihimaera's story, hastaken more than $60 million at box offices worldwide. It has won awards at major film festivals from Toronto to Rotterdam to Sundance, and is now generating Oscar whispers. But we would celebrate Caro (37) and her mighty effort even without that adulation. Because it has so deftly taught us so much about ourselves. Because, foreign receipts aside, more than a million New Zealanders felt compelled to see it. Because Caro stayed true to the story and to Ngati Konohi while winning over mainstream audiences. Because Dustin Hoffman was right in ways an American could never know when he asked Caro, "do you realise how important your film is?". Because, as Herald entertainment editor Russell Baillie wrote in labelling it the movie of the year before it was even released, "it has the air of a cultural landmark". And because as a teller of home-truths, it is the other book-end to Once Were Warriors, and we needed that.
Sam Neill leapt to his feet at the Toronto festival and made an impromptu speech thanking Caro for making the film New Zealanders had been waiting for. We add our thanks.
