drac's Talk

Once

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

We all fall in love with certain movies at different times, and in different ways. I knew the exact moment that Once had me - When an unnamed 'Guy' and an unnamed 'Girl' sit together in a music store, their voices joining in a duet so lovely I knew all at once I had discovered not just one of my new favorite films, but also one of my favorite songs - all in the span of a few minutes.

Once is a musical you've never seen before. It's a simple story about the meeting of two kindred spirits, who meet by chance on the streets of Dublin, and come together through their love of music. He's struggling to make a living singing on the street, and she sells roses to passersby to support her mother and young child. Struck by this guy singing his heart out, she starts a conversation and takes him to a music shop where she practices at lunchtime. Hansard's character is talented, funny and tormented by the woman he has lost, while Irglova is wondering what to do about the husband she left back home. It is impossible not to root for these appealing people to get together, but it might be the wrong time and place for them.

Once is a near perfect melding of music and film making. The set-up of the film allows for wall-to-wall music. The tunes, most of them written by Hansard and Irglova, are powerfully performed with a Gaelic directness in a folk-rock vein. The Guy works on a bittersweet tune called 'Lies' as he watches home video images of himself and his former love from happier times, which gives us insight into how deeply he was hurt. In a later scene, the Guy and the Girl put together a recording session with a tribute band. Their naïveté about how such a session works initially convincing the studio engineer they're a waste of time. But as their performance of "When Your Mind's Made Up" builds to a crescendo, we see the engineer's subtle realization that he's misjudged them - and the moment couldn't possibly work if the song itself didn't have such a unique power. As the songs come together in the studio, the music and their feelings build to a climax that is achingly real.

In a Hollywood film, there is no doubt that they would wind up together. Here the maturity of the film making allows for the possibility of disappointment. The accomplishment of the film is that it's just as satisfying. This is one of those rare films where the acting is so naturalistic and each scene so true to life that you almost feel as though you're intruding. Shot on digital cameras with beautiful hook laden songs to drive the story forward, Once is spellbinding from start to finish.

Whale Rider

"A long time ago, my ancestor Paikea came to this place on the back of a whale. Since then, in every generation of my family, the first born son has carried his name and become the leader of our tribe... until now."

Let me start off by saying, I typically barely EVER enjoy watching Kiwi films, so I was prepared for another failure when I sat down to watchWhale Rider. I couldn't have been more wrong! This is one of the most moving, beautiful and powerful films I have seen in years. This film goes straight to the top of my list of favourite festival films and it may even be my best New Zealand production - outside of LOTR, of course.

The story is of young Paikea Apirana, a Maori girl of New Zealand. The day she was born both her mother and her twin brother died. Her father, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis) is the eldest son of the chief, Koro (Rawiri Paratene), who has been awaiting the birth of his grandson, convinced the boy will grow up to reunify the Maori and lead them into the future. But Koro has no need for a granddaughter. His son, who is an artist and not a leader, leaves New Zealand, his father, and his daughter behind, but not before one final act of defiance: he names his daughter Paikea, after the legendary ancestor of their people who rode the whale from Hawaiiki to this land.

The story continues twelve years later. Pai's father returns for a brief visit to renew the ancient conflict with his father by bringing news of a pregnant girlfriend in Germany. In a burst of anger Koro tells Porourangi to take Pai with him when he leaves because she is of no use to him. Pai overhears this and while we would expect her to be devastated, she is not: she knows her grandfather's heart better than he does himself and even to be with her father she will not leave Koro and her community. Without ever forcing the matter director Niki Caro, who also did the screenplay from Witi Ihimaera's novel, makes it clear that young Pai is the future of her people and wise beyond her years. At one point in the film Pai recalls her family history and adds, "But I was not the leader that my grandfather was expecting." This is certainly true, but the great irony of this film is that Pai is a leader beyond the old man's expectations. She proves this not only in the wonderful climatic scene of Whale Rider but during the most poignant and heartrending scene, when she gives a speech at a school concert that makes it clear that before she becomes a teenager she already knows exactly what her people need in terms of leadership for the future. She also knows that she is keeping faith with her ancestors and her ancient namesake.

Keisha Castle-Hughes delivers a powerful debut performance, certainly worthy of the Oscar nomination she received. She will have you in tears. Simply amazing.

It is clear from the start that Whale Rider is a very good film. It has the tone, the characters, and the story line of one. But where it becomes a great movie is where it sets up the pivotal moment in the film, the point at which Koro will recognize the truth about his granddaughter and acknowledge that she is the leader he has been awaiting. All of the pieces are in place and I would not be surprised if many viewers already have tears running down their cheeks. But instead of providing the obvious, Whale Rider transcends the awaited moment and gives us something larger and more wonderful. We should not have been surprised because the film had an earlier opportunity to bridge the gap between Koro and Pai, as she has been successfully completing on her own all of the tests her grandfather is giving to the young boys of the village in his search for a new leader, but her grandmother, in a moment of understated epiphany declares, "No. He is not ready yet."

The obvious impulse is to call this a magical film, but that misses the mark for me on two scores. Whale Rider is not only mystical instead of magical, it has a grounded sense of reality as well. Both Pai and Koro speak of their family and their people as going back countless generations to the ancient ones. How else do you explain a climax that transcends mere metaphor and visual beauty? Whale Rider should not be considered a children's movie, because few children of Pai's age would be able to appreciate the depth of this exquisite film. I love this film and I hope if you see it, you'll love it too.