Educational Media Reviews Online

With an introduction akin to Cameron’s Titanic, this exhilarating and nostalgic documentary tells the story of the Zaca, a 75-foot schooner built in 1929 by Templeton Crocker, a San Francisco socialite. The vessel has served many needs and has a rich and varied history. This film gives an entertaining and informative account of the Zaca’s voyages.

Perhaps the most conspicuous element of this film is its music. From the DVD menu to the closing credits, the film features brilliant, original music that truly captures the mood of the “life” of the Zaca.

The audience is presented with a gaze back in time when the Zaca made its first voyage around the world in June 1930. Do not mistake this film for a mere “story of a yacht,” as the film details the interactions of the Zaca’s crew with otherwise isolated societies in the Solomon Islands. The crew captured a host of images of unmolested civilizations in remote locations. In 1935, the crew of the Zaca brought molds of the giant statues on Easter Island to New York City. In addition, the Zaca was put to work by scientists in Galapagos Islands and used by the US Navy in World War II to patrol the Pacific for Japanese warships. For a period of time, the Zaca was also owned by American actor Errol Flynn. Interviews with original crew members give life to amusing accounts of Flynn’s life and parties.

Though the documentary meanders slightly at times, it is a tremendous piece of work. In addition to the main feature documentary, the DVD also offers featurettes of “The Making of…” and “Details of the Solomon Island Visit.” The latter contains additional information and still photographs of the people and locations of the Solomon Islands. The documentary offers fantastic footage and painstakingly assembled historical films. In the Wake of the Zaca comes highly recommended to anyone with a fondness for “history with flair.”