Nature’s Guardians: Ecofeminist Struggles and the Interconnected Biosphere in Woman at War, Whale Rider and Princess Mononoke

Abstract

This research paper investigates the portrayal of ecofeminist themes and the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature in the films Woman at War (2018), Whale Rider (2002), and Princess Mononoke (1997). Through a close reading informed by ecofeminist theory, the study analyzes how these narratives center female or feminized figures as catalysts for ecological resistance and cultural renewal. The protagonists-Halla, Paikea, and San-embody a defiant response to environmental destruction and patriarchal authority, each confronting industrial, colonial, or mythic forces that seek to dominate nature. The films construct a vision of the biosphere as a living, interconnected system where human and non-human entities coexist in fragile but vital balance. By integrating indigenous cosmologies, spiritual dimensions, and acts of civil disobedience, the films articulate a shared ecological ethic grounded in empathy, relationality, and reciprocal care. This research ultimately demonstrates how cinema can serve as a powerful medium for articulating ecofeminist resistance, revealing the deep interdependence between gender justice, environmental stewardship, and the reimagining of a more sustainable and equitable world.