 How do you feel about the concept of tradition? Are you someone who believes the old ways of doing things are something to be cherished? Or is tradition to you something that evolves over time? And what if said tradition seemingly had no place for you? Because in Nicky Caro's hauntingly beautiful drama Whale Rider, one young girl is about to shape the destiny of her family, tribe and identity forever. Just on the 1987 novel written by Witte Himaira, the story follows Pai, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes, a Maori child who lost her twin brother and mother when she was born. Grief stricken and refusing to follow his father's tribal ways, Pai's father emigrates to Germany, leaving his daughter to be raised by her grandparents. Desperate to restore the fortunes of his clan, her grandfather, Koro, played by Rauri Padene, embarks on a rigorous training regime of his village's firstborn boys, teaching them ancient chants, fighting techniques and tribal law, hoping to find a new leader amongst them. However, when Pai wants to help her grandfather by proving she has what it takes, old prejudices and adherents to rigid dogmas of the past blind him from letting her participate. Shot in and around the book's central location of Hoangara in New Zealand, Whale Rider's story came about after the author's daughters asked him why it was that boys always got to be the heroes and girls were always helpless in the films they watched as a family, prompting Himaira to create the protagonist Pai and complete his story in just three weeks. The casting of Keisha Castle-Hughes, who were selected from 10,000 children from several schools in the local area, was made after director Karo stated that in order to find the right Pai, she didn't want a child actor or a girl who could play the part, but someone who was the part. As such, the completely untried Castle-Hughes is simply stunning in the role, bringing a nuanced pain and naive sense of shame from disappointing her grandfather, that is counterbalanced by her fearlessness in resisting his oppressive views on tradition. A remarkable debut performance that was indeed worthy of its Academy Awards nomination for Best Actress, making her the youngest actor to ever be nominated for the award at that time. But it's not just in the performances that makes Whale Rider shine, there is a ghostly ethereal atmosphere created thanks to the astounding score by Lisa Gerard. Her dark, somberest strings combined with Leon Nabi's moody yet beautiful cinematography creates a visual and audio experience that is overwhelming in its uplifting power, leaving you quite mesmerized after viewing and perhaps gifting you a newfound sense of pride for your own humble origins and the boldness to question if it's time for old traditions to make a change.