Whatcha Watchin'? Whale Rider and Joshua
by Lah-May
Whale Rider
Reviewed by Lah-May
After enduring the titillating (literally) previews (with children in the audience as well!), I settled into the opening water scene of Whale Rider sensing I was going to be in for a film of genuine value and purity. I wasn’t disappointed.
Whale Rider tells the story of a young girl’s sense of destiny within a patriarchial, tradition-bound Maori society who believe their ancestor Paikea led his people to New Zealand riding on the back of a whale. The grandaughter of the tribe’s chief, also named Paikea ("Pai") grows up feeling her grandfather’s love, but also knowing of his disappointment in the stillborn death of her twin brother—the grandson he planned to train to be the next Paikea and become tribal leader.
Pai admired the stability of her grandfather and respected his values. She loved her wandering father and was wise enough to let him pursue his life as an artist guiltlessly—knowing his destiny wasn’t tribal leader. She found comfort and reassurance in her grandmother’s strong character and sensitive wisdom. She loved her people and desired to see them regain their strength and sense of dignity. Pai’s affinity to her homeland and her awareness of the ever-present whales kept her focused on her growing responsibility.
While the discord within the community was apparent, because there was no real leader to unite and lead them to the next level of their cultural evolution, the tribe was slowly disintegrating. Pai stepped forward, and, despite the many obstacles put onto her path, exhibited the wisdom and bravery of a true leader destined to initiate changes to heal the rifts and inequities between the sexes, restate the value of the family, and help her people unite and recognize their significance as a people of this planet.
Joshua
Reviewed by Lah-May
There’s so much speculation on what the second coming of Christ will be like. Some literally believe the Bible’s scenario which has Jesus riding on a white horse through the heavens. Some see Him raining fire and brimstone on the non-believers (i.e. anyone who disagrees with their fundamentalist perspective). Some relegate Him to a common man and therefore have either no opinion or a hostile reaction to the subject.
Joshua, based on the novel by Joseph F. Girzone, offers another perspective. A simple man, a carpenter, comes to a small disjointed town to rebuild a church, build a community, and resurrect fallen, lost, and frightened souls. Like the first-century Jesus, the twenty-first century "Joshua" appeals to the common people and the humble but elicits distrust and condemnation from the sanctimonious religionists.
A source that reveals with clarity the life and teachings of Jesus (Joshua ben Joseph) is The URANTIA Book which describes Jesus as a strong and forceful personality, an intellectual power, and a spiritual stronghold (not at all like the emaciated mystic so often portrayed in film and art). The film’s Joshua is also a strong individual, truly interested in others and desirous of assisting them overcome their fears and inhibitions and actualize their talents in the highest way. Joshua engaged with others in activities—fishing, working, shooting pool, playing music, dining—with sincere enjoyment. Yet he wasn’t indifferent to soul issues that hindered persons in their relationships with others and to God. He knew how to reach souls and help them in their ascension to become who the Father of All created them to be—even loving those who sought his ruin.
Who knows the hour or the circumstances of His second coming? (Lord knows there are countless speculators seeing "signs" in every world event.) Maybe the most valuable lesson in Joshua is the importance of living life according to the teachings of Jesus—as brothers and sisters, not as Catholics, or Baptists or Jews or whatever. With such a shift in understanding, organized religions and traditional dogmas may just give way to genuine and spiritual living.