Maori mysticism, from a novel by Witi Ihimaera, brought to the screen by writer-director Niki Caro in the bright rich color that seems to be indigenous to the New Zealand cinema. The storyline tells of a moribund modern-day tribe awaiting the arrival of a savior, and not recognizing the one right under their noses: a barrier-leaping, tradition-defying, taboo-breaking little girl. It's a wonder they didn't notice sooner, because the girl, eleven-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes, could wrap pretty much anybody round her little finger: the café-au-lait complexion, long straight nose, snaking eyebrows, and glistening eyes bring to mind a prepubescent Jennifer ("She's a Maniac") Beals -- one of the most poignant faces of her generation, if one of the most wasted on screen. But though the girl may save her people and save the whales (a beached suicide squad of them), she cannot quite save the movie from its Disneyesque cheerleading. With Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis. (2002) — Duncan Shepherd
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