Backbencher

Whale Rider is a movie written and directed by Niki Caro, and is based on the book by Witi Ihimaera. It is based in a Maori village in New Zealand where tradition means everything. The movie starts when Pai is born along with her twin brother. Her family comes from a long line of chiefs so when a boy was born the family thought they had their new leader in this generation. However, soon after she is born her brother dies, along with her mother. This crushes Pai's grandfather and he denounces her on the spot. From then on he never really gives her the credit she deserves for what she is doing. She proves herself worthy many times throughout the movie to be the next leader but is never taken seriously.
Pai's grandfather starts a camp with several young boys looking for the next chief. Pai tries to join the camp but he will not let her. One of the first times she really stands up to her grandfather happens here. She sits in the front row and her grandfather says that only boys sit in the front row and tells her to move. Pai remains in her spot until he finally tells her to just leave, and even then it took him a couple times to say it before she leaves. She sneaks behind though and continues to learn the ways of being a chief. The night of Pai's program her grandfather goes down to the beach and sees whales all over the beach, and the next day Pai is the only one who is able to save them which is finally what proves to her grandfather that she is worthy to be the heir.
I thought this was a really good movie and showed how important tradition is in the Maori culture, but also how it showed how change can happen in the tradition but still be accepted by the old and new generations.