Kon-Tiki (2012)
25KKon-Tiki: Directed by Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg. With Pål Sverre Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Tobias Santelmann, Gustaf Skarsgård. Legendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s epic 4,300-mile crossing of the Pacific on a balsawood raft in 1947, in an effort to prove that it was possible for South Americans to settle in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times.
“65 years after his courageous voyage; 10 years after his death, Thor Heyerdahlu0026#39;s legacy continues to inspire and fascinate. This time through a hybrid of sea adventure and historical drama in a film named after the wooden raft used in his 1947 expedition.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA mesmerizing epic set against the thick of post-World War II, this Oscar nominee (in best foreign language category) is a dramatization of the writer-exploreru0026#39;s 97 days journey sailing from South America to the Polynesian Islands. In an attempt to prove his theory about South Americans being capable of migrating to Polynesia by sea; Thor (played by Pål Sverre Hagen) built a privately funded balsa raft, gathered a five-men crew and embarked from Peru. By using the same technology that wouldu0026#39;ve been used in pre-Columbian times, he had hoped to disprove anthropological skeptics.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYet to me this film is more than just sprawling tribute to a grand Norwegian odyssey. It has been said that all exterior scenes of the ocean were captured in open sea (as opposed to interiors of a film set). This strategy paid off for directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg because the result, is visually rich and emotionally authentic. u0026quot;And youu0026#39;re going to spend the rest of your life chasing sunsets.u0026quot; Thoru0026#39;s wife wrote in a letter — indeed. Isolated and dehistorized, Kon Tiki captures Thor in a state of pre-famous existence and restless idealism. All thirst for adventure completely intact and willing to trade everything he has in exchange for whatever it is that he seeks.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film is receiving polarized reviews internationally. Part of the problem may be that exposition begins on the vigor of elegant biopic and takes on the energy of an action-thriller, before it finally concludes in nostalgic sentimentality. But these things are mostly a matter of pre-conceived notions about narrative tone and limits of what a historical drama should, or ought to be. It would be prudent to withhold from such expectations. Rønning and Sandberg have done Thor Heyerdahlu0026#39;s legacy justice.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ecinemainterruptus.wordpress.com”
