Educational Media Reviews Online

Kon-Tiki’s premise seems as incredible today as it must have seemed in 1947 when Thor Heyerdahl and his crew made their journey: six people leave the shores of South America on a raft made out of balsawood with the aim of reaching Polynesia.

Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian ethnographer, theorized that the indigenous peoples of Peru had settled the Polynesian islands. His critics disagreed with the thesis. One of their arguments was that the balsawood crafts the Peruvian natives had would never have made it on the open seas all the way to Polynesia. To that end, Heyerdahl decided to defend his theory. He and his crew constructed a traditional Peruvian craft. Their modern equipment consisted primarily of a radio, a rubber dinghy, and a camera to document the voyage. They named the craft the Kon-Tiki and set sail. Their voyage took 101 days.

For what is essentially a sixty-year-old, black and white, amateur home-movie, Kon-Tiki holds up extremely well. The narration provided by the late Ben Grauer is wryly informative. The production values are primitive by today’s standards, but the subject matter is fascinating. Between the comparatively tame details of life aboard the raft and the more dramatic encounters with whales, sharks, and gales, there is plenty to engross. It is easy to see why Kon-Tiki won the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

The extras are very good. In addition to some short color footage of the crew, a slideshow of photos, information on the crew, and an animated expedition map, there is also an hour long documentary on Thor Heyerdahl. While a hugely popular figure with the public, Heyerdahl remains controversial in scientific circles. The established scientific community has been critical of his theories and research. The documentary does lightly touch on this, but provides more of a general look at Heyerdahl, his life, and his endeavors.

Regardless of Heyerdahl’s scientific legitimacy or lack thereof, Kon-Tiki is still a remarkable film. It would be suitable for collections supporting history, anthropology, and South American studies and is highly recommended.

Awards

• Academy Award – Best Documentary 1952