“Whale Rider,” 25 January 2004 (2002), video. We really liked this PG-13 film about the crisis in Maori culture. With no male heir, a traditionalist Maori community leader in New Zealand disregards and disrespects his granddaughter who is totally connected to the traditions of her people. She learns the rituals on the sly and fulfills all the tests required to become the rightful chief, but her grandfather still rejects her. In the end, she alone realizes how to protect and save the whales her people revere. This is a wonderful, mystical exploration of changing gender roles in a traditionalist community. It is very much worth watching. While there are a few risqué moments (the grandfather explaining to native boys that their ‘dicks’ will fall off if they violate certain traditional culture), it is a film the whole family can watch and enjoy. I am not sure how much Bronwen got, but it was a very good film