Overview
A nominee for both the Academy and Golden Globe Awards, Kon-Tiki is a film about one of the most epic real-life adventures of the twentieth century. It is a dramatization of the life of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal; a man with serious conviction and absolute determination.
Heyerdal was certain Polynesia had been settled by people from South America, rather than Asia, which was the common belief at the time. Having had his research on migration of early civilizations rejected by publishers, Heyerdal embarked on the voyage of a lifetime to prove his theory correct.
In 1947 with a hotchpotch crew, minimal equipment and a dodgy-looking balsawood raft (the Kon-Tiki), Heyerdal left Peru, hoping that the currents would carry them across the Pacific Ocean to the islands of Polynesia. The shot of the 5 men standing on the raft in full suit, tie and leather shoes was a perfect visual summary of Heyerdal’s plan—pure lunacy.
The best part of the film takes place on the raft, and it’s certainly a wild ride. It’s one of those Murphy’s Law situations where everything that could possibly go wrong seems to do so. I welcomed the slower moments that punctuated the hard-hitting adrenalin-filled action scenes. They offered insights into the extreme moments of clarity and insanity that come with 101 days of drifting on the ocean.
Kon-Tiki is a worthwhile dramatization of Heyerdal’s incredible 8000-kilometre journey. It will appeal to you sea enthusiasts and adrenalin junkies, though those more interested in the history and practical details may be disappointed. The Norwegian cast made for believable characters, a welcome change to pretending not to be watching the same faces we’ve seen a million times before.
I was expecting something more character driven though, and felt some of the integrity of the story was sacrificed in favour of a block buster style. Nevertheless, Kon-Tiki was entertaining and interesting, packed with stunning visuals and enough excitement to last you the whole weekend.