Whale Rider (New Zealand, 2002)

This is the story of a Maori girl who lives with her family in a community somewhere in New Zealand. Her grandfather does not accept her completely, basically because of traditions, where only men are accepted as inheritors and tradition keepers. The Maori girl struggles throughout the film, and at the end, when the whales are trapped in the beach, there is only person capable of making them move back to the water. Who will be the true whale rider? You will have to see the picture to find out. Director Niki Caro brings an interesting story based on Maori traditions and Keisha Castles-Hughes, who plays the little girl, had an Oscar nomination for best actress.