Kon-Tiki
Closed CaptioningThor Heyerdahl
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Plot Summary
Kon-Tiki is the Academy Award-winning film of an astonishing adventure, a journey spanning 4,300 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean by raft. Intrigued by Polynesian folklore, Norwegian biologist Thor Heyerdahl suspected that the South Sea Islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by the mythical hero Kon-Tiki. Heyerdahl knew that the trade winds and ocean currents off the South American coastline bear in the direction of Polynesia. Ridiculed by the scientific establishment, who had concluded that a voyage by aboriginal balsa raft from Peru to Polynesia was impossible, he decided to prove the possibility of his theory by duplicating the legendary voyage. The ensuing expedition was hailed as one of the most fantastic feats of daring and courage of its time. On April 28, 1947, Heyerdahl and his five crew members embarked from Peru on their daring voyage to the Marquesas Islands, on a balsa wood raft which was built according to the traditions of South America's pre-Columbian Indians. After 101 suspenseful days on the open sea, alone amid raging storms, whales, and countless sharks, they landed on the Polynesian island of Raroia. The expedition attracted worldwide interest. Heyerdahl's book Kon-Tiki was translated into 67 languages, and sold more than 20 million copies. Heyerdahl had been presented with a film camera before the journey began, and both the building of the raft and the voyage across the Pacific were filmed in detail. This fascinating black and white film was awarded an Oscar for the most outstanding documentary of 1951. The raft is now exhibited at the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Norway, where it is seen by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
Customer Reviews
Kon-Tiki * Thanks Thor Heyerdahl for proving the establishment "wrong"
The Kon-Tiki adventure stands on its own against the establishment of forever. In our times, when we are witnessing and experiencing the troubles caused by an elite of very well "educated" folks. And how they brought the world into economic disaster, this story moves forward the lateral thinkers. True heros. Thor Heyerdahl, took whatever funding he could get, whomever wanted to share in the adventure. Made of this story a real epic of innovative thinking. This documentary should be viewed everywhere, by all. Because it shows how a small team of people, armed with: Vision, mastery of Knowledge, Courage of conviction and Determination. Can withstand very close contact with the ravages of the particular problem, in this case mother nature's vastness of the oceans and its perils; and complete a journey otherwise deemed impossible (by you know who).
Kon-Tiki
An interesting adventure/story...was not aware that this documentary is strictly black & white - the original footage from the actual expedition filmed back in 1947 or thereabouts. Guess that's a good reason to always be sure to take a look at the trailer before purchasing or renting!
Terrific!
Such an inspiring voyage of calm, intelligence & innocence.
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