Original subtitles

[WIND BLOWING, SEAGULLS CALLING]

Thor!

Thor!

It's dangerous!

Thor!

Thor, don't do it!

Thor, wait!

Thor, don't do it!

You'll fall in the water!

Don't do it!

- Don't do it! - Don't do it! Don't jump!

- Come back, Thor! - Don't...!

Thor!

[BUBBLING]

[GURGLING, COUGHING]

Are you all right?

[SHIVERING]

Cold...

I thought he was dead.

Cold...

You were going to show off, weren't you?

[BOYS CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Thank God that Erik saved you.

God had nothing to do with it!

What makes you do these things?

[KNOCKING ON GLASS]

Do you promise never to do anything that dangerous again?

Do you?

Do you promise?

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

Smile!

No, no smiles,. Please don't smile.

Just be yourself. That's perfect.

Monsieur!

[BELL RINGS]

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

Liv!

So, no smiling.

You look very handsome.

[CAMERA CLICKS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

You're going to make this island famous.

Like Darwin and Galápagos.

When people hear Fatu Hiva, they'll think of Thor Heyerdahl.

[CHUCKLES]

- [THOR YELLING] Whoo! - [LIV LAUGHS]

[BOTH SHOUTING, LAUGHING]

Turn up against the current.

This is hard work.

Didn't you say the first Polynesians came from the west?

[THOR] Yes.

Imagine paddling all the way from Asia. Against the current.

They must have been strong.

Yes!

[GRUNTING]

Are you OK?

Yes.

No problem.

- Liv? - [LIV] Hmm?

Listen to this:

"The Faa-hoka is the Marquesan variety of pineapple.

It was found in abundance by the first European explorers."

- The same pineapple. - Right.

Indigenous to South America.

Maybe it can swim?

[CHUCKLES]

Tei?

Where did your ancestors come from?

We believe that Tiki...

Tiki, the sun god,

brought us to these islands

from the land behind the sea.

[CHUCKLES]

From the east? L'est?

Everything comes from the east.

The currents, the wind, and the sun.

Tiki navigated toward the setting sun.

[ANIMALS CHITTERING]

Tiki!

- [CAR ENGINE REVVING] - [INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[PHONE RINGING NEARBY]

[MAN ANSWERS, SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

[SIGHS]

So, how long are you in New York?

Leaving in a few days.

Going home for Christmas.

My name is Heyerdahl.

- Thor Heyerdahl. - Yes, you already said that.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[MAN CLEARS THROAT]

The wise men of anthropology are quite clear

that Polynesia was not populated from the east.

Wise men are not always right, sir.

Look around you.

Every book in here offers some theory or another.

Most written by one man, read by perhaps only ten,

of whom nine disagreed with the theory.

But my theory provides evidence

that Polynesia was settled from the east.

I've spent ten years writing and researching my thesis.

I lived on Fatu Hiva, professor.

I lived my theory.

What number am I?

How many publishers have you seen before me?

I know you've been to Barbeau and Benedict.

I presume Mead and Hill too.

All scientists assume the world is waiting to hear from them.

The fact that I'm your last hope ought to 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 the Peruvian pre-Incan civilization

was remarkable, I agree.

And that the prevailing winds and currents

in the Pacific down there move from east to west.

But it is also the case that Tiki could not have travelled to Polynesia

- because his people had no boats! - No.

But they had rafts.

They had balsa wood rafts.

[CHUCKLES]

Rafts.

Now that would be evidence.

You want your theory to be accepted?

You want to be right? Then, go ahead.

Drift from Peru to Polynesia on a balsa wood raft.

Good luck.

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

[WOMAN SPEAKING OVER INTERCOM] Mr. Brownberg's here to see you, professor.

[THOR] Gentlemen.

Your magazine will be with me on a raft

at the mercy of the winds, all the way to Polynesia.

It's further than from Chicago to Moscow.

Here to here,

5,000 miles.

You'll have some sort of engine in case of emergency?

No, absolutely not.

We will surrender to the current

and the wind, like Tiki did.

And by undertaking this extraordinary voyage, you are proving...?

That the oceans were not barriers,

but roads.

Not impediments,

but pathways.

I will prove

that South American people

sailed to Polynesia 1,500 years ago.

Every schoolboy knows that Polynesia was peopled from Asia,

not South America.

And it's my job as a scientist to prove the schoolboys,

and those who quote them,

wrong.

Ancient men,

- being sun worshipers-- - [MAN] Mr. Heyerdahl.

Doubtless, the story of Norwegians drowning in the Pacific will sell

a lot of magazines, but not this one.

This is a scientific expedition--

Our magazine has a higher purpose than to finance

and enable men bent on suicide.

[MAN] I doubt you'll have any success in recruiting anyone for such a voyage.

- [CREAKING] - [CLOCK TICKING]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[SOFT GROAN]

[JAZZ PLAYS]

[THOR] A dozen logs or so.

Big balsa wood logs.

We're, uh, five crew.

All very capable, of course.

The mast, the rudder...

There you go.

The Kon-Tiki.

I spent 22 days on a raft.

Torpedoed. North Atlantic, winter of '43.

You can't sail it,

steer it.

All you can do is sit there and wait to die.

- No, no, no. - These logs,

they are gonna move against each other in the waves

and eventually they're gonna break the lashings.

And you'll each be sitting on a log floating your separate ways

at the mercy of the elements.

Thank you for your time.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Excuse me. Aren't you Norwegian?

I couldn't help but overhear you in there.

- You a sailor? - No. But you obviously aren't either.

That will significantly reduce drag.

We engineers can't help ourselves.

Though I'm basically a fridge salesman.

Herman Watzinger.

Thor Heyerdahl.

So you're heading out on a raft?

It all indicates that you can drift all the way across.

Thanks to the wind and currents.

I have one month to finance and organize the expedition.

- Mr. Heyerdahl, may I help you? - We have an appointment.

Financing by Christmas, then buy balsa...

Mr. Heyerdahl, you are not on the list.

Look under his name. Watzinger. W.

[MEN CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Build in March, sail in April, arrive in August,

and hope hurricane season starts late.

Just following my instincts...

Peter Freuchen.

We damn near died when the zipper froze.

[LAUGHTER]

He's the big chief here.

Mr. Heyerdahl, you are not allowed in here.

Well!

My friend from Fatu Hiva!

You look like a man who just got dumped by a glossy magazine!

[LAUGHTER]

[LAUGHS]

Thank you.

Don't worry, Heyerdahl.

Scientific committees, my ass.

- Am I right, McGregor? Or am I right? - Always. Of course.

Frostbite, the winter of '24.

It taught me one thing:

do as the natives do, down to the smallest detail.

Don't use nails if they use rope,

don't use steel if they use bone.

It took their ancestors a thousand years to learn.

Go with them, and you just might hang on to your leg.

[LAUGHTER]

Cheers!

[LAUGHTER]

[THOR] Whoo!

[LAUGHTER]

I am 32 years old.

A fridge salesman with a broken marriage.

And I would desperately like to join you on that raft.

You have no idea how dangerous the refrigerator business is!

You realize nothing can save us out there?

Except your theory.

Captain.

At least you won't freeze your leg off.

[THOR CHUCKLES]

I'd like to change my ticket to Oslo, please.

- Certainly, sir. - I want two tickets to Lima, Peru.

- And when would you like to travel? - [HERMAN] What's the soonest?

One moment, please.

Tomorrow.

- Tomorrow then. - Certainly, sir.

He thinks you're Santa Claus.

Tell him that isn't true.

Tell him yourself.

They can't wait till you come home.

Neither can I, Thor.

The thing is, Liv,

I haven't managed to finance the expedition yet.

So I have to go straight to Peru.

Aren't you coming home?

Things have been difficult here, Liv.

Very difficult.

I've been begging all over town. I can't do it anymore.

Don't do this.

- I have to, Liv. - Don't do this to the children.

If I come home now, it will all be over.

I have spent ten years of my life on this, Liv.

You don't even know how to swim!

I'm going to ask Torstein Raaby and Knut Haugland to join me.

[CHILDREN GIGGLING]

- Can they sail? - No, but they can use a radio.

And I'll ask Erik. He can navigate and use a sextant.

You should have come home.

- Or asked me to join you. - Liv, dearest...

You know I would have declined.

- Because of the boys. - Liv,

come to Tahiti.

Meet us there.

Bring the boys.

We'll show them Fatu Hiva.

[WOMAN] This is the operator. Your collect call will end in ten seconds.

Yes, just one moment, please.

Thank you.

Liv?

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Ready?

Yes.

- [LAUGHING] - [HORN HONKS]

[MEN CHUCKLING]

Hi there! Boy, is it great to see you!

It took me three weeks to get here, you bastard.

This is Herman Watzinger,

my second-in-command.

For the simple reason that that makes me commander-in-chief.

Herman, these are my two fantastic radio operators.

Torstein, a war hero with nerves of asbestos.

He only has two weaknesses: whiskey and women.

Knut Haugland. Also a war hero.

Knut doesn't like me to say it,

but he is a legend.

You truly are, Knut.

Erik Hesselberg.

Not a legend.

[ALL CHUCKLING]

But you did save my life. Erik and I grew up together.

Erik has a unique skill that we should all enjoy on board.

He has actually been to sea.

- Any questions? - Let's introduce you, too.

This is Thor.

A pompous and self-absorbed character.

But an excellent leader.

And that is why we are going to do what Tiki did 1500 years ago.

We are going to build a raft.

- And... - And drift into the sunset.

Where is the raft?

You're sitting on it.

Here you go.

- Are we building this? - Yes, we are.

We are going to use the exact same method

and same materials that Tiki used 1500 years ago.

That is essential.

Everything depends on it.

Is that understood?

We are going to need a lot of equipment.

True. Once the money comes in, we'll buy everything we need.

Thor Heyerdahl?

- Yes. - My name is Bengt Danielsson.

I'm a little busy, so...

I saw this yesterday.

And you're here to tell me we'll sink within two weeks.

Or get devoured by a giant squid.

I just thought I'd show you how to put that camera together.

There!

- Are you a photographer? - No. Ethnographer.

- I just spent a year in the Amazon. - But you can use a camera?

Take me along, and I'll show you.

Señor Heyerdahl, if you have a minute.

Señor, nice to see you.

I must say, delicious breakfast this morning.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

- About the bill... - I know.

Still waiting for the money.

American dollars are hard to transfer these days.

- But it's been three weeks. - I know.

- I can't... - I know.

Just a few more days.

Thank you.

Thank you.

A documentary could make you a lot of money.

If it's well-made.

Let me guess.

No money today either?

[SHOUTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Your Excellency, thank you for seeing me at such...

Your Excellency, thank you for...

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

Señor Heyerdahl?

Just a glass of water, please. Thank you.

Monsieur Bustamante.

Your Excellency, thank you for seeing me...

So, uh,

what can I do for you?

Actually I'm here to tell you about something I can do for you.

And what might that be?

By crossing the Pacific

for 5,000 miles, I will prove

that Peruvians were the first to settle Polynesia.

Ah.

Peruvians

discovered Polynesia.

And how may I help you?

The President of Peru called the US Navy, and here we are.

So we're invading Polynesia on Peru's behalf.

[LAUGHS]

And you thought he was a waiter?

[MAN]...thermometers, battle rations, powdered soups, floating knives,

desalination tablets, dinghies, fishing tackle, canned food, shark repellent...

- Does it work? - What?

- The shark repellent? - That's what we want you to find out.

- [FILM WHIRRING] - [NO AUDIO]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

An amputation saw.

Prepared for everything.

Are you sure about that fridge salesman?

[THOR] That's fine, just put it there. Thank you.

TO: THOR FROM: LIV

[THOR] Yes.

[INDISTINCT]

Are you bringing anything but books?

No.

I just hope I have time to read them all.

It'll be much roomier than this.

- [BANGING] - [LAUGHTER]

- It won't be this tight. - Erik, move your leg!

We'll be like sardines in a can.

We'll be eating fish for the next three months. I need another steak.

Thor, I've been thinking.

How about a little test run?

Just for a few days? We have the time.

No, that would be too risky.

Risky?

Yeah.

Anyway, Tiki already took the test run for us.

Cheers!

To Tiki!

- Cheers! - Cheers!

Excuse me.

Us! Tripulantes!

[ALL CHEERING]

- Tripulantes! - [APPLAUSE]

No, you loco!

[LAUGHTER]

FATU HIVA - 10 YEARS EARLIER

This is all I have, Liv.

If you believe everything will be OK, it will be.

[DISTANT BELL RINGS]

[RINGING CONTINUES]

The ship.

The ship! Liv, it's the ship!

Wait!

[LIV GRUNTING]

- No! - Liv!

Wait!

[THOR SHOUTING]

Over here!

Over here!

Hey! Over here!

We're leaving in a few hours, Liv.

I wanted to say goodbye to you and the boys.

Bye, Thor.

I brought lots of medicine this time.

Good. I hope you won't have to use it.

What?

I hope you won't have to use it!

Yeah, right. Me too.

The boys wish you luck.

Thank you.

What about you?

Don't be mad at me, Liv.

Liv,

if this is a success,

everything will be different.

I won't have to struggle anymore.

I just hope our children still have a father in 100 days.

What did you say?

[SIGHING]

I can't hear... What did you say?

Nothing, Thor.

Nothing.

Please...

I can't hear you.

What did you say?

...bad connection... sorry...

[BEEPING TONE]

[BOYS CHATTERING]

- [FILM WHIRRING] - [NO AUDIO]

- [OVERLAPPING CHATTER] - [SHIP HORN BLARES]

- [EXPLOSION] - [CHEERING]

- [MARCHING BAND PLAYS] - [EXPLOSIONS]

[BAND PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC]

[PA ANNOUNCEMENT IN SPANISH]

Whoa!

- [HEARTBEAT RHYTHM] - [NOISE FADES]

[CHEERFUL, OVERLAPPING SHOUTS IN SPANISH]

- [SHIP HORN BLARES] - [ENGINE PUTTERING]

Thor!

Over here!

Hi there!

[CROWD CHEERING]

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

How's it going in here?

We'll see.

He's doing his best, Thor.

- Anyone want more tomato soup? - No, thanks.

If we get a westerly wind now,

we'll blow right back to Callao.

Tiki had a southerly wind.

There it goes again. Shit!

How can we get it around?

Tighten the sail up front.

Then we can steer and sail.

Tighten it on the starboard side.

That's just not right.

You'll get more leverage the higher you hold it.

Come on.

- Are you all right? - Damn!

More rope on the starboard side.

Starboard!

- Which side is starboard? - Right!

Christ!

It isn't budging.

We're on the wrong bearing.

- We can't steer at all. - Don't worry.

Let's just keep the bow pointed forward, for now.

Keep up the good work!

You just enjoy the ride.

Soon you can start a Peruvian crab colony in Polynesia.

Not bad!

I would have liked it better if we were heading toward it.

[CAMERA WHIRRING]

Try removing the lens cover.

[CHUCKLES]

There.

[CAMERA WHIRRING]

[VOMITING]

And only 100 days to go.

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[GASPS]

Was that a shark?

Go back to sleep.

Your watch is in a couple of hours.

- [WOOD CREAKING] - [MEN SNORING]

[LOGS BANGING TOGETHER]

Thor?

Remember those sailors in New York?

The ones...

who said the logs would rub together and break the lashings?

[THOR] Mm-hmm.

We should have used some wire.

If they were good enough 1500 years ago, they're good enough now.

If you don't trust Tiki, trust me.

[CAMERA WHIRRING]

[LAUGHS]

Anyone know if they're edible?

Flying fish.

Probably tastes like a cross between herring and grouse.

Herman, you should hang on.

If you fall overboard, we can't turn around and get you.

- I'm glad you're experienced. - I heard drowning can be pleasant.

You might hold your breath for a minute or two.

Then you inhale.

When you swallow all that salt water,

you choke.

Then it mixes with your stomach acid.

That chemical reaction feels like your insides are burning up.

Then you panic.

Your heart starts pounding.

And you start rupturing blood vessels.

Then you swallow more and more water,

and eventually you die.

All in all...

Three, four minutes.

- Maybe five. - Doesn't your life

flash before your eyes?

Yes. And,

according to the experts, that's the worst part.

[CHUCKLES]

[RADIO STATIC]

Damned radio!

Forget about if, Torstein.

- What? - The Andes...

The Andes are hundreds of miles from here.

Just stay in bed.

I don't want you throwing up on the radio.

Look at the chart.

As long as we drift along the coast, we won't get a signal.

I need radio contact, boys.

Attention equals money. And I'm paying for this.

You're so right, Thor.

Keep filming.

I want to be able to contact the Coast Guard.

They'd never make it in time.

If something did happen.

NNW. Excellent.

You realize the South Equatorial Current is due west?

Yes, I'm aware of that.

I mean, since we can hardly steer and are heading in the wrong direction.

You know you can't wish for a new bearing.

Certain rules apply at sea.

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

- Should we wake the boys up? - Nah.

It's just some rain.

Let them sleep.

[THUNDER CRASHING]

All men on deck!

Come on!

Get the sail down!

[GRUNTING] Aah!

[WOOD CREAKING]

[THUNDER CRACKLING]

Lash yourself to something!

Lash yourselves to something!

Cut down the sail!

- [MOANING] - [MEN SHOUTING OUTSIDE]

- [WOOD CREAKING] - [COUGHING]

- [BIRD SQUAWKING] - [THUNDER CRASHES]

Get it down!

[YELLING]

[SHOUTING]

[FABRIC RIPPING]

[YELLING]

Thor!

[GASPING]

Grab my hand!

Thor!

[SOUND FADING]

Thor!

[PANTING]

[WOOD CREAKING LIGHTLY]

[BIRD SCREECHING]

We did just fine, didn't we?

Twelve degrees, five minutes,

two seconds south.

Eighty degrees, fifty-five minutes,

forty-eight seconds west.

Bearing NNW.

And that means?

52.8 nautical miles.

Which equals?

2.2 knots.

OK.

That's not so bad, is it?

We're still heading too far north.

This is our location.

So worst case, we drift in to the coast?

Worst case, we drift up here.

Into the maelstrom south of Galápagos.

I've never heard of that.

Seriously? Look...

Believe everything will be OK, and it will be.

I do believe.

But I also have a sextant!

"The Galapagos maelstrom

creates waves over nine meters high

and its powerful roar can be heard over ten miles away."

There's a nice illustration too.

[RADIO STATIC]

We need it higher.

Higher.

Can you get it higher?

Let me try.

Higher!

[STATIC]

There!

We have something.

It's from Los Angeles.

Can he contact the press?

[MORSE CODE BEEPING]

Here comes the money, Thor!

[STATIC]

I lost him.

No, no, no!

That damned bird!

[SQUAWKING]

Leave her alone.

Why did we bring that bird, anyway?

Good question.

What do you say, Thor?

She was a gift.

[KNUT SHIVERING, GROANING]

[SQUAWKS]

Bengt!

Bengt, get the camera.

Get the camera, Bengt!

The camera, Bengt!

Get the camera!

It's a whale shark.

Perfectly harmless.

Harmless? It could flip us in a second.

They're considered sacred in Vietnam.

They call them Ca Ong. "Sir Fish."

Here it comes.

- [MUTTERING] - [LAUGHING]

Look at that!

Bengt, where's the camera?

I'm loading it!

It got me! It's trying to flip us!

No. Take it easy.

Where is it?

[DEEP BELLOWING]

[CAMERA WHIRRING]

Look at that!

[CHUCKLING]

Put that down.

- No! - Yah!

- [SHOUTING] - [RAFT CREAKING]

Erik!

Erik!

[CREAKING]

[GRUNTING]

Come on.

Herman, are you deaf?

- Didn't you hear him? - It was going to flip us.

You have to follow orders!

- Get a grip! - Come on.

I'm sorry.

Shit!

Well?

- He didn't listen to you. - It's my job to tell him that.

Listen...

He sells fridges.

He got scared. It happens.

[SIGHING]

- How are you doing? - Fine.

I'm fine.

People who think they have worries

should give this a shot.

Drifting across the Pacific.

[SQUAWKS]

Hi, Lorita.

[LORITA CROAKING]

That was us, once upon a time.

Us?

That's how we started out.

As tiny organisms in the water.

Were we that beautiful?

Probably.

But it's all been downhill since then.

Thor?

That shark, or whale,

or whatever it was...

Is Knut all right?

He's fine.

Don't worry about it.

And you're trying to steer?

Yeah. Trying to catch that South Equatorial bus.

Unless we've already missed it.

Nope.

Maybe?

No.

Not a chance.

[LOGS THUMPING, CREAKING]

[EXHALING]

[RAFT CREAKING]

Building a life raft?

It's for my daughter.

She's six months old.

I doubt her first words will be "daddy".

Torstein?

I need to talk to the press. Come on.

I'm working on it.

I have a young daughter myself.

Really?

There's nothing we can do right now.

Just fix that radio.

And I'll show you what I can do.

[RATTLING]

The Andes can't still be the problem.

They can, without the balloon.

That damn bird.

We don't have enough power.

[SPARKING]

Shit!

[EXHALES]

[TYPING]

Could you put that cigarette out?

Look!

There's something down there.

Look at that.

Look at that!

Shark protection.

Right.

- Are you going in? - No. Bengt is.

Sure. Send in the Swede!

[CHUCKLING]

[MUFFLED SCREAMING]

[GASPING, COUGHING]

A shark!

[COUGHS]

[PANTING]

It's waterlogged. Just like you showed me.

Showed you?

I threw a piece overboard.

It sunk like a stone.

The raft is absorbing water, Thor.

It looks worse than it is.

We aren't even heading in the right direction!

You take an extra middle watch.

Everyone back to your duties!

[STATIC]

[BEEPING]

We've got him.

[BEEPING]

Ready?

Yeah.

To: Royal Norwegian Embassy, Washington, D.C.

From: Thor Heyerdahl, Kon-Tiki, May 17th, 1947.

Fifty-eight seconds south, zero-niner seconds west.

The raft is keeping up well.

We are on our way, and morale is high.

Having had problems with the radio,

we have been unable to establish contact.

Wind conditions are stable and we are travelling an average speed...

All right?

- You sure about this? - People want to see the raft.

Incoming.

It's over 15,000 feet deep here. Don't drop it.

[CAMERA WHIRRING]

[WHIRRING STOPS]

[WHIRRING RESUMES]

Shark! Come on!

[PANTING]

It's OK.

Bengt?

Why feed soup to the sharks?

It's shark repellent.

No, that's tomato soup.

- Then where's the shark repellent? - Apparently we've been eating it.

[LAUGHING]

- [SQUAWKING] - [ERIK SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[ERIK WHISTLING TUNE]

[ERIK HUMMING]

Lorita?

[SCREECHES]

Lorita!

No!

[SCREECHES]

[SHOUTING]

[GRUNTING]

Watch your feet!

Whoo!

[TORSTEIN LAUGHS]

[GRUNTING]

Stop it!

We'll just attract more sharks!

[GRUNTING]

- Please! - Aah!

[GRUNTING]

Please.

It's our only chance.

Our only hope is to reinforce the lashings.

Tighten everything.

Herman...

We built this raft just like Tiki. He made it across.

And so will we.

This is what we believe in.

Believe?

This isn't some religion, Thor.

This is madness.

This is bigger than us.

Please.

Look at the logs.

- Feel how the raft moves. - Tiki knew.

Don't you understand anything?

You're the only one here who believes in Tiki!

Really?

Then what the hell are you doing here?

I beg you.

All I ask is that, to be on the safe side,

we use some modern equipment.

Please.

No!

No!

[SPLASHING]

[LAUGHS WEAKLY]

At least I won't freeze my leg off.

Herman!

Grab the rope, Herman!

[GASPING]

Grab the rudder! The rudder!

Hang on!

[GRUNTING, SHOUTS]

It's too short!

Throw the shark overboard!

Throw the rope again!

Throw it!

[PANTING]

Herman!

[GASPING]

No, Knut!

Throw the rest of the shark!

[GRUNTING]

[ALL PANTING]

Three years ago I shot four men.

The Gestapo found me with a radio.

We were at war.

That's what Torstein says, too.

He took part in sinking the Tirpitz. 1000 men were lost.

And that doesn't bother him.

Thank you.

But you saved my life.

That's what I mean.

Thank you.

I couldn't have saved you.

I can't swim.

I know that, Thor.

Everyone knows that.

[THOR GRUNTING]

What time is it?

Ten past two.

Are you sure?

Yes, ten past two.

We have to talk.

Go ahead.

We're in the South Equatorial Current.

On our way toward Polynesia.

- Are you sure? - 100%.

[CHUCKLES]

My God!

[LAUGHTER]

Look at this!

We're on our way!

[ALL SHOUTING, LAUGHING]

Whoo-hoo!

I knew it!

No, you didn't!

[LAUGHING]

Herman!

Are you happy now?

Were you ever in doubt?

[THOR] On course and shipshape, we have now passed the critical point.

- [BEEPING] - And spirits are high.

Every nautical mile is a nautical mile

closer to the proof I have sought.

Early man did not see the oceans as a barrier,

but rather as a means of communication.

This is science that cannot be done behind a desk

or by a committee.

That a 1,500-year-old civilization,

possessed the maritime and the navigational skills

to successfully maneuver a balsa wood raft

over 5,000 miles.

We are using the same stars as they did.

It's like we're the only people left in the universe.

Maybe we are.

Maybe they've dropped more bombs.

And every town is like Hiroshima.

I doubt we'd have radio contact then, Bengt.

Maybe we've simply been accepted.

By nature.

That we're like seagulls or fish.

DAY 101

A bird.

Hey!

Look!

[LAUGHTER]

Look! A bird!

What's going on?

Look!

Woo-hoo-hoo!

We have travelled over 5000 miles,

but the biggest danger still lies ahead of us.

- People? - No.

Raroia Reef.

A wall of razor-sharp coral surrounding the island.

Why haven't you told us before?

I didn't know where we would land.

We could try to steer south.

We'd reach Samoa in... 30 days.

[CHUCKLING]

Forget about it!

What alternatives do we have?

We could try surfing over it.

Surfing?

Yeah.

Waves come in cycles of 13.

Every 13th wave is much larger than the others.

As soon as we...

get close to the reef,

we toss out something heavy that anchors the raft.

And then?

Then we count waves.

And right before the 13th,

we cut the rope and, hopefully,

surf over the reef.

It might just work.

I like it.

Let's do it.

- It's a plan. - Excellent.

Look for anything heavy.

We have some broken radio batteries and some jerry-cans.

Thor?

Liv asked me to give you...

You were supposed to get it when we reached shore, but...

- Approaching Raroia reef. - [BEEPING]

If no word within 36 hours,

contact Norwegian Embassy in Washington.

Two hundred and fifty yards to go.

Ow!

Shoes on, everybody!

All set in back?

Whenever you're ready, Herman.

Toss the anchor!

[CREAKING]

One!

Never thought to bring life vests?

Two!

Three!

Four!

[CREAKING]

Five!

Six!

Seven!

Eight!

Nine!

It broke! Hang on!

[SHOUTING]

[CREAKING]

[LOUD SCRAPING]

[SHOUTING]

Thor!

[BOY'S VOICE ECHOING]

[GASPING]

[COUGHING]

[COUGHS]

[PANTING]

[THOR GASPING]

[LAUGHING]

[ALL LAUGHING, SHOUTING]

My dearest Thor.

You did it!

You proved what Tei told us that night in Fatu Hiva.

You don't need to learn how to swim.

If you fell in the water you'd float by sheer willpower.

As you may have realized, I am not in Tahiti waiting for you.

What was supposed to be our life,

turned out only to be yours.

You are who you are.

You will spend the rest of your life searching for that sunset.

Thor, this was never about exploring the Pacific.

More important than going, was why you had to go.

Why you couldn't stop yourself from leaving everything behind.

But that is who you are, my beloved Thor.

And ironically, what I love most about you,

is what drove us apart.

Liv.

- [FILM WHIRRING] - [NO AUDIO]

[SLOW PIANO MUSIC]

Bengt fell in love with Polynesia, where he settled, becoming the Swedish Consul General.

He died in 1997.

Erik built his own sail-boat, which became his home for eleven years.

He made a living as an artist until his death in 1972.

Torstein continued to go on expeditions.

He died in 1964 during an attempt to reach the North Pole on skis.

Knut resumed his career in military intelligence.

He also became one of the driving forces in creating the Kon-Tiki museum.

He died at Christmas in 2009.

Herman travelled the world as a Minister of Fisheries in the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation.

He died by Lake Titicaca in 1986.

Thor wrote a book about the Kon Tiki expedition

which was translated into more than 70 languages and sold more than 50 million copies.

The documentary film he made about the journey won an Academy Award.

Liv and Thor were divorced after the Kon-Tiki experience.

The boys stayed with Liv, who later moved to the United States, where she died in 1969.

Thor continued to work as an experimental archaeologist, writer and adventurer.

He died, aged 87, in 2002.