Sing Bravo Bravo

Whale Rider praise swells in both broadsheet and tabloid reviews on its UK premiere. Daily Telegraph: “Bereft of name actors, supersaturated colours and egregious product placements, it shows us that another kind of film-making is possible. One that values ideas, emotions, real characters. One where the beating of a human heart is louder than the clamour of a thousand speeding space buggies.” Empire: “combines classic themes with a little-seen cultural perspective to come up with an uplifting crowd-pleaser.” The Mirror: “A beautiful, uplifting, fabulous, once-in-a-generation production that instantly restored my fading faith in movie making.” Observer: “Castle-Hughes is an appealing and yearning presence, and gives one of the most affecting performances by a child these past couple of years.” Not all enjoyed the ride however; the Guardian critic calling it “a cross between Free Willy and a 90-minute Benetton ad.”