It's partially a money decision. Keisha Castle-Hughes is an international star from "Whale Rider." Not too many other girls in her age group fit that description. When you're spending $35 million on a movie, plus P&A, you need some names.
Thank you. That makes a lot more sense. As I said, there's got to be an awful lot of talent that would qualify. I suspected that this one, as is usual in real life, was an inside who-do-you-know decision, and had nothing to do with the mundane desire to be authentic.