Thor!
It's dangerous!
Thor!
Thor, do not do it!
Thor, you have to wait!
Thor, do not do it!
You can fall in the water!
Do not do it!
- Do not do it! - Do not do it! Do not jump!
- Come back, Thor - Don't!
Thor!
Are you okay?
Cold ...
- I thought he was dead. - Cold ...
You are tough, aren't you?
- Thank God that Erik saved you. - God had nothing to do with it.
I don't know what it is that drives you to do this.
I hope you've learned your lesson -
- Can promise that you never do something so dangerous again. You promise?
You promise?
- Smile - No, there shouldn't be any smiling.
Just be yourself.
Sir!
Liv!
No smile, that is.
You look very handsome.
You will make this island famous.
It's going to be just as with Darwin and the Galapagos.
When people hear Fatu Hiva they will only think of one thing: Thor Heyerdahl.
You have to turn towards the stream some more.
Yes, but it's heavy.
didn't you know that the first Polynesians came from the west?
Imagine to paddle all the way from Asia against the current.
They must've had strong arms.
Yes.
Are you okay?
I'm fine
It's okay.
Liv?
Listen to this:
"Faa-hoka is a type of pineapple from the Marquesas. "
"The first European explorers found quantities of them. "
- Same pineapple? - Yes.
That actually belongs in South America.
Perhaps it can swim?
Tei? Where did your ancestors come from?
We believe that Tiki ...
Tiki, the sun god, -
- Took us to the islands -
- From the land behind the sea.
From east? "L'est?"
Everything comes from the east.
Ocean currents, wind and sun.
Tiki controlled the sun.
Tiki!
AMERICA AND POLYNESIA:
A study of prehistoric relations.
- How long will you be in New York? - Leaving in a few days.
I'm going home for Christmas.
The name is Heyerdahl. Thor Heyerdahl.
Yes You already said that.
According anthropology's Wise Men Polynesia was not populated from the east.
Things aren't always what they seem sir.
Look around you. These books are full of theories.
Written by one man, read by ten, nine of whom are in disagreement with the theory.
But my theory proves that Polynesia was settled from the east.
I've spent ten years writing and researching my thesis.
I lived on Fatu Hiva professor. I have lived my theory.
What number in line am I? How many publishers have you seen before me?
I know you've been to Barbeau and Benedict. I presume Mead and Hill-Tout?
All scientists assume the world's just waiting to hear from them.
The fact that I'm your last hope ought tell you something.
Yes, that scientific publishing is completely closed to new ideas.
It tells me that when you ignore evidence nothing... - Listen to me!
You claim that Peruvian pre-Inca civilication was remarkable, I agree.
And the prevailing winds and currents down there move from east to west.
But it is also the case that the Tiki can't have sailed to Polynesia -
- Because his people had no boats!
No, But they had rafts.
They had Balsa wood rafts.
Rafts...
Now that would be evidence.
You want your theory to be accepted? You wanna be right?
Drift from Peru to Polynesia on a balsa wood raft.
Good luck!
Gentlemen ....
Your magazine wil be with me on a raft -
- at the mercy of the winds, all the way to Polynesia.
It is further than from Chicago to Moscow.
5000 miles.
You have some sort of engine in case of emergency?
No, absolutly not. We will surrender to the current and the wind -
- like Tiki did.
And by undertaking this extraordinary foyage you are proving?
That the oceans were not barriers, but roads.
I will prove that South American people sailed to Polynesia -
- 1500 years ago.
Every schoolboy knows that Polynesia was peopled from Asia. Not South-America.
And it is my job as a scientist to prove -
- The school boys and those who quote them wrong.
Ancient men, being...
Mr Heyerdahl.
Boubtless a story of Norwegians drowning in the Pacific will sell alot of magazines, but not this one.
It is a scientific expedition...
Our magazine has a higher perpose then to finance an unabled man bent on suicide.
I boubt he'll have any succes recruiting anyone for such a voyage.
A dosen logs or so...
Big balsa wood logs.
And a cabin for a crew of five
All very capable ofcourse. A mast and rudder ...
There you go.
The Kon-Tiki.
I spent 22 days on a raft. Torpedoed. North Atlantic, 1943.
Can't sail it, steer it.
All you can do is sit there and wait to die.
These logs are gonna move against each other in the waves and eventually break the lashings.
And you'll each be sitting on a log floating your seperate ways and the mercy of the elements...
Thank you for your time.
Pardon You are Norwegian, right?
I could not avoid hearing what you were talking about in there.
- Are you a sailor? - No. But neither are you.
It will lessen resistance considerably. We engineers can never resist.
But now a days I'm mostly selling refrigerators. Herman Watzinger.
- Thor Heyerdahl. - And you. You're going to float about?
all indications ... all in the same direction.
It is entirely possible to drift all the way over.
Due to ocean currents. It is wind and current that is key
One month for me to finance and put in place the entire expedition.
- May I help you? - We have an appointment.
The money in place before Christmas buy balsa ...
- You are not on the list! - Look under his name then, Watzinger.
Building in March, sailing in April arrive in August -
- And hope that hurricane season starts late.
- Peter Freuchen. - We nearly died when the zipper froze!
He is the captain here.
- They are not allowed in here - My friend from Fatu Hiva!
You look like a man who just got dumped by a glossy magazine!
Thank you.
Don't worry Heyerdahl Scientific Committees my ass.
- Right, McGregor? - Always, Of course.
Frostbite, winter 1924
It taught me something important: Always do as the natives do, down to the smallest detail
Do not use nails if they use ropes, don't use steel if they use bone.
It took their ancestors 1000 years to learn Go with them -
- And you just might just hang on to your leg.
Cheers!
I'm 32 years old.
A refrigerator salesman, a broken marriage.
And I really, really want to join the raft
If you only knew how scary it is in the refrigerator industry!
There is no one who can save us there. You see that?
Aside from that theory of yours
Captain.
You will certainly not freeze off your leg
I want to change my ticket Oslo please.
- I want two tickets to Lima Peru. - And when would you like to travel?
- What's the soonest? - One moment please.
Tomorrow.
- Tomorrow then. - Certainly sir.
- Teddy thinks you're Santa Claus. - Tell him that it's not like that.
You can tell him yourself. They are so excited for you to come.
It will be so good to have you home Thor.
Yes, Liv, now it's like this -
- That I haveb't managed to finance the expedition.
So I have to actually go to Peru right now.
Aren't you coming home?
It's been difficult in life. It's been very difficult.
I've been going around town begging. I can't take any more.
Don't do this.
- I have to, Liv. - Thor, don't do this to the kids.
Don't you understand? If I come home now, it's over.
I spent ten years on this Liv.
You can't even swim!
I've asked Torstein Raaby and Knut Haugland whether they will join.
- What do they know about sailing? - Not much, but they can use the radio.
And I've asked Erik. He can navigate and use the sextant
You should've come home.
- Or asked for me to join you. - Liv, sweet Liv.
You know I had said no. For the boys' sake.
Liv. Come to Tahiti.
To meet us
And take the boys. Then we show them Fatu Hiva.
- Ten seconds of calling time left. - Just a moment, please Thanks.
Liv?
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas then!
Ready?
Yes.
- He! - No, I was happy!
I spent three weeks to get here, you bastard.
This is Herman Watzinger my deputy commander.
For the simple reason that without him no one could've been supreme.
Herman, this are my two fantastic radio operators.
Torstein War Hero Nervous system of asbestos.
As far as we know, he has just two weaknesses, whiskey and women.
Knut Haugland. War Hero too.
Knut hates me for saying this, but I must be allowed to call him a legend.
Erik Hesselberg
No legend.
But you've saved my life. Erik and I grew up together in Larvik.
Erik has a unique feature that we're going to enjoy
Erik has in fact been at sea before.
- Any Questions? - If perhaps you could introduce yourself first.
This is Thor.
A pompous, self-centered bastard, but a very good leader
And because he's here, we will do like Tiki did 1500 years ago.
We will build a raft.
- And... - And drift into the sunset.
Where is the raft?
You're sitting on it.
Here you go.
- That's what we're going to build? - It is.
Exactly that. We use the same approach -
- And the same materials that Tiki did 1500 years ago.
This is extremely important. It all depends on it. You got that?
We're going to need a lot of equipment
We do. And when the money comes, We'll buy all that we need.
Thor Heyerdahl?
- Yes. - My name is Bengt Danielsson.
- I'm a little busy right now. - I saw this yesterday.
And now you tell me that we're going to sink after two weeks.
Or what do you think, giant squid?
Thought I'd show you how to mount the camera.
Like that!
- You're a photographer? - No. Ethnographer.
- Back from a year in the Amazon. - But you can use the camera?
If you let me, I'll show you.
Señor Heyerdahl have you got a minute?
Señor Real! That was a lovely breakfast today.
- They're huevos con tortillas. - The bill is coming.
I'm still waiting for the money from the U.S.
- But it has been three weeks. - I know, I know...
Just a few more days. Thank you very much. Thanks
You can earn a share of the documentary. If it's well made.
Let me guess. There was no money.
Your Excellency, thank you for seeing me...
Your Excellency, thank you for ...
- Señor Heyerdahl? - A glass of water, please.
José Bustamante.
Your Excellency thank you for seeing me...
- So, what can I do for you? - Actually, I'm here for something that I can do for you.
And what might that be?
By crossing the Pacific, for 5000 miles.
I will prove that Peruvians were the first to settle Polynesia.
Ah? Peruvians discovered Polynesia?
How may I help you?
So calling the President to the Canadian Navy -
- That says we should get everything we need
In return, we must invade Polynesia on behalf of Peru?
And you thought he was the waiter?
... Soup. Knives, dinghies, fishing nets canning, shark repellant ...
- Does it work? Shark repellant? - That's what we want you to find out.
It is good How much do we need there?
- Now I have ten pieces. - Back there, then?
- It's completely full. - Then it's good.
Amputation-saw, yes.
Prepared for anything.
Are you sure about the refrigerator seller?
- Do I...? - No, that's okay.
Herman, how is it with the ...
- What are you taking other than books? - Nothing.
Beyond the hope I prefer to ferment all.
There is much more space with us
- It's not so cramped. - Erik. Extend your leg!
We stand to sleep that sardine can.
Nothing else than fish in three months. I think I need to have a steak.
Thor, I thought about one thing.
What about a trial?
Just a few days We're still off in time.
- No, it's too risky - Risky?
Yes The Tiki probably didn't take it for a test first either.
Cheers!
- Tiki! - Cheers to Tiki!
Cheers ...
- Excuse me - No, Torstein ...
Us! Tripolantes!
No, you are "loco!"
- "Gracias!" - "Salud!"
It's just that I have, Liv.
Have faith that things are going well, everything will be okay.
The boat!
Boats! There are boats, Liv!
Wait!
No!
- No! - Liv!
Wait!
Help!
Over here!
Help us here!
we're leaving in a couple of hours, Liv.
I just wanted to say goodbye to you and the boys.
Goodbye, Thor.
- I have lots of medicine with me this time. - That's nice.
- Hope you don't have to use them - What?
I hope you don't have to use them!
Yes, yes. So do I.
The boys say good luck.
Thank you.
And you?
Do not be mad at me, Liv.
Liv. If I get there, -
- Everything will change.
I dont't want to fight like this, Liv.
I just hope that 100 days from today children still have a father.
I can't hear you very ... What?
Nothing, Thor.
Nothing.
I couldn't hear you just now. What did you say?
The line is breaking. Liv! Sorry ....
Adiós!
Thor, look over here!
Hello!
Yes, how are you?
- We'll see. - He's doing the best he can Thor.
- Do you want any more of that tomato soup? - No thanks.
If we get wind from the west now, we blow right back to Caiao.
Tiki got wind from the south.
- There it is again Fuck! - How do we get around it?
Tighten the sling front. Then we both board and sail.
Tighten the rope starboard.
- You must have the further up Thor. - Behind?
Further up When we get more torque to steer with.
Come on.
Ouch! Damn!
- Are you okay? - Damn.
Take out more rope on starboard. More rope starboard!
- Where is starboard? - Right!
Oh my God!
Wouldn't budge. It's the wrong course anyways.
- We can't control it. - It's okay.
Now we just use the paddle. So we keep the bow forward.
Awesome. Great job.
Just relax and enjoy.
In a 100 days, you can start a Peruvian crab colony in Polynesia.
That wasn't bad!
Had liked it even better if we were heading there.
It's probably better if you take off the lens cap.
Like that.
Yes ... There are only 100 days left now.
Was it a shark?
I think you should get some sleep.
You watch a couple of hours.
Thor?
Remember the sailor, the sailor in New York?
That said the logs would rub against eachother and then the ropes would tear apart?
We should've used some wire.
These ropes held for 1500 years, and they will keep now.
If you can't trust the Tiki you can trust me.
Does anyone know if they are edible?
Flying fish.
Must taste like a delightful mixture of herring and grouse.
Herman, you should stand more steady.
If you fall overboard, you are there. And we can't turn around and pick you up.
Luckly atleast one of us has been at sea before.
Drowning would be the best way to die.
You hold one minute under water, maybe two. And then you exhale.
When you swallow lots of salt water. First, it will strangle you.
Then it pushes down into the lungs and stomach. Mixes with stomach acid.
Then there will be a chemical reaction. A bit like you're burning up inside.
And then panic. Your heart will start to beat very fast.
And then a part of your organs and stuff will crack, inside.
And then you'll swallow more and more water.
And then you die.
All in all.
Three, four minutes. Maybe five.
But you don't get life in revue?
Yes.
And the experts say that's the worst part.
Hell Radio! Damn!
Just forget it. Torstein.
- What did you say? - Andes ...
Andes are hundreds of miles away. Ok?
Just stay in bed. I can't risk you vomiting on the radio.
Look at the chart, then
As long as we run up along the coast, the radio signal is out of reach.
I must have radio contact, guys.
Attention is money. And I must pay for this
That's right, Thor. Keep on shooting.
I will contact the Coast Guard.
They'd never manage to arrive in time. If anything should happen
North northwest. That's good.
You know that the southern equatorial cubits is located west?
Yes I know.
Since we can barely manage to steer and are completely on the wrong course, I thought.
You know that it's not possible to go a new course?
There are no rules at sea.
- Should we wake the boys? - No.
There's just no rain.
They get to sleep.
Everyone on deck!
Come on!
Get the mainsail!
Thor!
Tie yourself down Thor!
Fasten your seat belts!
Race.
Cut it!
Get the mainsail!
Thor!
Thor, grab my hand!
Thor!
It was nice there?
Twelve degrees five minutes -
- Two seconds south.
Eighty degrees, minutes fifty-five ...
Course north.
What does it mean?
528 nautical mil.
And that makes?
2.3 ... 2.2 knots.
Yes.
But it's not so bad, is it?
It's still too far north. Here we are, after four days.
The worst that can happen is that we run back to shore?
The worst that can happen is that we die here.
Into the maelstrom flows south of the Galapagos. That's where we're headed.
- I've never heard of anything like that. - Please. Look ...
Have faith that it's going well, everything will be okay.
I have lots of faith.
The problem is I also have a sextant!
Galapagos vortex forming waves of over nine meters -
- And the roar can be heard from many miles away.
It's nice illustrated, too.
We need to get it higher.
- It must be higher. - Can you get it higher?
Roger that.
Higher!
There!
We have nothing.
- He's sending from Los Angeles - Can he contact the press?
Now comes the money, Thor!
I lost him.
No, no! No!
Damn! Fucking shit bird!
Hey! Let her be.
Why did we take the bird?
Good question.
What say you, Thor?
It was a gift.
Come on.
Bengt ... Bengt, get the camera.
Get your camera, Bengt!
The camera, Bengt!
Bengt, get the camera.
Whale shark. Completely harmless.
Harmless? Are you crazy? It can wallow in one second.
- They are sacred in Vietnam. - They call it "Ca Ong". Mr. Fisk.
Bengt, camera!
Here it comes.
Look at that!
- Bengt Where's the camera? - I charge it
- It tries to pass us! - No, it only eats from the raft.
Where is it?
Look there!
No, put it down.
No!
Erik!
Come here.
Herman, are you deaf? didn't you hear what he said?
- It would topple us. - You need to follow your orders!
- Keep it together. - Come
Pardon
Damn!
- Yes ... - Yes?
- He didn't listen to you. - It's my job to tell him that.
You...
He sells refrigerators.
He was scared. That just happens.
- How are you? - I'm fine.
I'm fine.
People who have something to think about -
- They should try it too.
Drifting across the Pacific.
Hey, Lorita.
- That was us long ago. - Us?
Yes we started that way.
As small organisms in the water.
We were so beautiful?
Probably.
But since then it has gone straight to hell.
Thor?
The shark or whale or whatever it was... It was uncalled for...
- Are you okay Knut? - It is good
Do not worry about it.
You are the years?
Yes trying to reach the South Equatorial bus.
What if it's already gone, what then?
It's not.
It could happen.
No.
It can't happen.
- Building a life raft? - No, it's for my daughter.
She is six months old.
I doubt that her first words will be "daddy".
Torstein?
I need to talk to the press. Come on.
Not now, but later. Okay?
I also have a little daughter at home.
We can't reach. There is nothing we can do.
Fix the radio, you. Then I'll show you what I can do.
- The mountains still interfere with the signal. - Without the balloon, they will remain in the way.
The damn bird.
- We don't have enough power. - It's not about watts Torstein
Damn!
Hell!
Can you quit the cigarette?
See!
There's something down there.
Look at that.
Look at it!
Protection against sharks.
Yes Exactly, yes.
- Are you going down? - No. Bengt.
Yeah shown. Send Swede!
Shark!
It's totally waterlogged Just like you showed me.
Showed?
I broke off a piece and tossed it overboard. Sank like a stone.
raft absorbs water, Thor.
It looks worse than it is.
we're not even on the right track!
You take an extra dog guard. As far as I know everyone has a job to do here!
Yes we got it.
Ready?
Yes.
"To Otto Munthe-Kaas, the Norwegian Embassy, Washington DC. "
"From Thor Heyerdahl, Kon-Tiki on May 17, 1947. "
"58 seconds south, 09 seconds west."
"The raft is keeping up well. we are on the way and morale is high. "
"Due to problems with the radio We have been unable to establish contact. "
"The wind conditions are stable and we ..."
- You doing okay? - Yes.
- Are you sure? - Yes. People will see the raft.
Film out of the hand. It is 5000 meters deep here. Do not lose it.
Ha! Come on!
- We got you. - Come on!
I got you.
It's ok.
Bengt?
- Why do you feed the sharks soup powder? - It's shark repelent.
No, it's tomato soup.
- Where's the shark repelent? - I think we ate it.
Were you happy sailor.
You'll get my praise.
You are awake, I am young.
Singer from the heart, singer.
You are awake, I am young.
Singer from the heart, singer.
Girl in Havana...
Lorita?
Lorita!
No!
Pass legs!
Stop it! We'll attract only more sharks!
Please!
Please.
It's our only chance.
Our only hope is first to fix the ropes.
Tighten everything up again.
Herman...
We have built a raft like Tiki did. And he came forward.
And so do we.
- This is where we believe. - Believe?
This is not a religion of Thor. This is... frenzy.
This is bigger than us.
Please.
Look at the logs. Feel how your raft is moving.
- Tiki knew. - God, don't you understand anything?
There is no one else here except you that believes in Tiki!
No?
What the hell are you doing here?
I implore you.
All I ask is that we ensure us -
- With a few modern materials.
Please?
No!
Well, certainly not going to freeze my leg off...
Herman!
Herman, take the rope!
Grab the years!
Hold on!
The rope is too short!
Throw that shark overboard
In with the rope again!
Throw it!
Herman, take it easy!
No, Knut!
Throw out the rest of the shark!
Three years ago, I shot four men.
Gestapo took me by radio.
It was war.
The same is said Torstein.
He helped to lower the Tirpitz. 1000 men went down.
But it doesn't bother him.
Thank you.
It was you who saved my Liv.
That's what I mean.
Thank you.
I couldn't have saved you.
I can't swim.
I know that. Thor
Everyone knows that.
What time is it now?
Slightly past two
- Are you sure? - Yes, few minutes past two.
- We need to talk. - Yes, there you are.
we're on the south equatorial cubits.
On the way to Polynesia.
- Are you sure? - Yes. 1000%.
Oh my God!
Look at it!
we're there! we're on the way, boys.
- Is it true? - Are we there?
I knew it.
No, you didn't!
Herman!
Are you happy now?
Were you in doubt, right?
We have passed a critical point The mood is good.
Each nautical mil is one mil closer evidence I have been looking for.
Ancient humans didn't look at the ocean as a barrier. -
- But as a way of communication.
Such research can't be done from behind a desk
- Or by a committee.
A 1500 year old civilization -
- Had shipping and navigation skills.
Managed to maneuver a balsa raft -
- Over 5000 miles.
We use the same stars as they did!
It's as if we are the only people left in the universe.
Maybe we are.
Maybe they've released more bombs at each other.
And every city's like Hiroshima.
I don't think we would've had had any radio contact then, Bengt.
Perhaps we've simply just been accepted now.
By nature.
That we have become like a seagull or fish.
Bird.
See!
A bird.
what's going on?
See!
We have traveled over 5000 miles, -
- Yet it is a fact that the greatest danger lies ahead.
- People? - No.
Raroia reef.
There is a wall around the whole island, with sharp coral.
Why didn't you say anything?
It was impossible to know exactly where we would end up.
We can try to push the exchange rate slightly southward.
And hope to hit Samoa in about... 30 days.
- Can you believe it?! - What options do we have?
We could try to surf over.
Surf?
Yes.
Waves come in cycles of 13
Every 13th wave is substantially greater than the others.
When we're close to the reef -
- We'll throw out an anchor, something heavy that can keep the raft in place.
And so?
Then we count the waves. And just before the 13th wave -
- We cut the rope, and then hopefully surf over the reef.
It can go.
I like it.
We're doing this.
- This is how we do it. - We must find something heavy.
We have some broken radio batteries and jerry cans.
Thor?
Liv asked me to give you this.
It was the intention that you should get it when we arrived, but...
Approaching Raroia reef.
"If you don't hear from us within 36 hours ", -
- Contact the Norwegian Embassy in Washington.''
250 meters left.
Put on shoes.
Everyone, put some shoes on!
Herman, Let's start.
It's time to throw the anchor!
One!
You never thought of bringing life jackets?
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
Nine!
The smoke! Hold on!
Thor!
My Boyfriend Thor.
You did it!
You proved what Tiki told us the night on Fatu Hiva.
You didn't learn to swim.
Should you fall in the water, you would depend on pure, shear willpower.
As you might have understood, I'm in Tahiti and waiting for you.
Because what was supposed to be our life, proved to be only yours.
You are who you are.
And you're going to spend the rest of your life chasing sunsets.
Thor, this is not about exploring the Pacific Ocean.
more important than to go, was why you had to go.
Why you couldn't stop yourself to leave everything behind you, -
- Steer towards the unknown.
But it is you, -
- My beloved Thor.
And the irony is that it is just that what I love about you. -
- And it's what drove us apart.
Liv.