Change is the need for Survival
...ourangi does not want to follow in his foot steps, but knows that he is powerless and can not change his son’s mind. Although Koro does have another son, he can not be considered because he is not the first born. His hopelessness continues. Pai is your typical twelve-year-old girl who lives day by day with her grandmother and grandfather. She goes to the local school and plays with her friends. She's smart and proves time and time again that she is capable of learning whatever is put before her. She is loved by her family and is an incredible girl, her only weakness however, is that she is constantly seeking for her grandfather’s approval. She feels his love through the one-on-one time they spend together throughout the movie, however she can also feel the constant lack of confidence he bestows upon her too. He doesn’t show her the respect that she deserves and continues to ignore her brilliance. Koro, having given up hope, finally decides to gather all the firstborn boys in the village to decide on a future leader; when doing this he cruelly excludes Pai from the ritual education in chanting, tribal history and jousting with a weapon called a taiaha. Partly out of will but mostly due to a deep mystical calling, Pai educates herself on her own time in the ancient ways, proving herself both spiritually and physically to be the clear chosen leader of her people (Hornaday). Koro still blind to this idea administers multiple tests to the boys in order to choose the best candidate but is let down because not one is living up to his expectations. Koro sees throughout the film that Pai is smart, but it is her grandfather that is not ready to accept this. Koro doubts Pai, and he doubts his own intuition instead he puts her down. He emotionally attacks her, not out of hate, but from misunderstanding of what she is. He ostracized one son (Porourangi) when Pai was born and is trying to do the same to Pai. The emotional interplay between the characters is genuine. You can see the love that Koro has for Pai and vise versa, but you can also see the hesitation in Koro's eyes. Both need each other but neither is willing to admit it. Pai is dignified. She stands up to her grandfather. She defies him only because she believes it's right, and she believes she can help her people. It is apparent at the end of the film when the grandmother hands Koro the missing tooth which was failed to be retrieved by a first born boy of the tribe but instead by Pai. Still stubborn to the idea that Pai is obviously the new leader he takes the tooth necklace and places it in his pocket. Pai knowing that she is the leader she begins calling out for help from her ancestors in the native language. They respond unexpectedly with many beached whales. The community, including Koro, is confused and outraged. Why all of a sudden is this phenomenon occurring? They ...