Lily: That was awfully nice of you. August: Well, I don't know. Some things in life, like the color of a house, don't really matter. But lifting someone's heart? Now, that matters.
Do you know about Maori culture (of the native people of New Zealand)? I didn't know much, so that's why I found this movie so informative, in addition to its beautiful storyline! (It also brought back fond memories of the year I lived in Kiribati, another country known for its rich culture centered around the ocean.)
*Whale Rider* is a very sad story, surrounded by tragic loss and family tensions, but has a happy ending. The main character, Pai (short for Paikea - named after the legendary whale rider) struggles to gain acceptance from her grandfather, who is convinced his people are doomed because Pai was born a girl (please see the movie for more explanation). In the end, Pai shows how beautiful a spirit she has, and her determination ends up helping her people in a surprising way!
Anyway, when the tragedy occurs in the beginning of the movie, the grandfather says "What's done is done." This expression is used when nothing can be done about a bad situation. The event is in the past and can't be changed. Japanese people often use the expression "Shou ga nai" in this kind of situation.
さて、映画の冒頭部分、悲劇が起こった時、族長が「What's done is done」と言うんだけど、この言い回しは、よくない事が起こった時、もう出来ることは何もない。という様な時に使うの。その出来事が起こってしまった、そしてもう結果を変えることが出来ない。というような時ね。日本人は、よくこんな時「しょうがない」と言うわね。
I don't want to say more because I don't want to ruin the movie for you. Please see it if you haven't already, especially if you love the ocean like me!