Water
Water is, naturally, the most prevalent imagery in the movie. The movie begins with water and the narration about the original whale rider while Pai’s mother is giving birth to her and her twin brother. The movie ends with Pai being submerged into the water by the largest whale she got on top off. This cements her leadership role and removes any doubt that she is the true whale rider.
The sound of the whales
The sound of the whales are heard throughout the movie, especially in the scenes where Pai is doubting herself and tries to call and communicate with them. During Pai’s school performance, Koro is on his way when he hears the calling of the whales that got trapped on the beach. The beginning narration about the ancestors of the Maori people and the story of the whale rider is followed by the whale sounds and imagery of whales in the ocean.
Pai’s speech and beached whales
Pai wins the school contest and dedicates a speech to Koro and his efforts to maintain tradition despite his nonacceptance of her as the whale rider. Parallel to her speech, the movie goes back and forth to Koro on its way to see her performance and his discovering the beached whales. Pai is crying out of grief that her grandfather isn’t there, while at the same time the whales on the beach are suffering and refusing to move.
The ending
The ending scene shows Pai’s ceremony following the acceptance of her as the new leader and whale rider. The villagers recreate the tradition of going into the ocean with Pai at the front as the leader. The final scene is meaningful and relays a message of acceptance and hope for moving forward.
