The sea adventure film seems to be gaining some momentum. Last fall, Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" took the box office by storm en route to a plethora of Oscar nominations and victories. 2013 will follow-up with the Oscar nominated Norwegian film "Kon-Tiki" which tells the true story of Thor Heyerdahl's expedition to prove that Polynesia was first inhabited by the Peruvians.
The film was nominated in the foreign film category due to its Norwegian financing, but an alternate English version was also filmed simultaneously; in retrospect this turned out to be a solid decision as the film plays at a brisk tempo that will appeal to audiences interested in an emotional adventure film. This review is based on the English version of the film; this writer has yet to view the Norwegian counterpart.
For those not familiar with the expedition here is a quick summary. While living on Fatu Hiva in the 1940s, Thor concocts a theory that the Peruvians were the first inhabitants of Polynesia. However, no scientific publication will stand by his theory and Thor is forced to prove it by building a raft and sailing from Peru to Polynesia without the aid of modern technology. For the journey he assembles a group of five other men including an engineer he met in New York. The six men risk their lives as they encounter the dangers at sea in hopes of proving Thor's theory.
Those expecting a gritty European style will be surprised by the pristine quality of the film which includes a number of lavish crane shots and impeccable production values. At one point late in the film, the camera frames the six men lying on the raft looking up at the stars. The camera slowly moves away from them and into the stratosphere. The raft slowly becomes insignificant in the grandness of the ocean. Eventually the camera reaches the universe and provides a bird's eye perspective of Earth before it cranes down again to reveal daytime and the raft continuing its journey.
That isn't to say that there is no raw or even crude imagery. A storm sequence features rapid cutting with the camera taking on a jerky quality that is reminiscent of modern European style filmmaking; there is even a moment where the water splashes the lens of the camera. In another sequence, the men capture a shark and rip apart its stomach to reveal its intestines and inner organs; it is surely not a moment for the queasy.
The film drives forth at a relentless pace with the obstacles mounting endlessly. At first the heroes are forced to face a storm and later they start to question and doubt one another. The aforementioned shark scene is easily the most suspenseful moment in the film as it leaves the viewer anxious and even afraid for the heroes' lives. It is impossible to fully express the power of this sequence without spoiling it, so we will limit the explanation to what has already been written.
"Kon-Tiki" features tremendous performances from all the cast members, but it is Pål Hagen's turn as Thor that carries the film. Hagen gives Thor innocence at the beginning of the picture that is expressed by his eager smile and animated voice. His upbeat nature is almost awkward in some moments, but adds to his nature as an outsider. However, as the journey takes its toll and his initially fresh and clean visage is dirtied by long and heavy facial hair, the playfulness gives way to severity. After a major scene in which Thor acts like a coward, the film cuts to another scene in which Thor is framed in tight close-up on him as he overhears the other characters conversing about the preceding scene. Thor remains quiet, but the shot reveals a battle within; it is almost as if Hagen's Thor is trying hard to hold back his own feeling of defeat. As the scene draws to an end, he doesn't cry or breakdown; instead he openly admits his weaknesses and assumes his responsibility.
The supporting characters are equally engaging in their performances with Anders Baasmo Christiansen shining as the inexperienced engineer Herman Watzinger. His character is equally naïve as Thor as the journey commences but weakens with the expedition's development. His increasing frustration and fear creates a strong conflict with Hagen's increasingly confident portrayal that layers the film with a subdued conflict.
The film is extremely well executed and paced, but it does have a few sequences early on that ultimately feel unnecessary when the film draws to an end. One of those moments is a brief flirtation between Thor and a local Peruvian girl during a celebration preceding the journey. The glances between these two characters hint that there might be more, but the development never takes place. It is possible that there was more to these glances in earlier cuts of the film, but it seems a bit careless to create anticipation for the audience that never really goes anywhere. The scene during which this flirtation occurs does not even need to be cut as it ultimately serves a larger purpose; simply editing out the stares would have sufficed and gotten rid of ultimately unnecessary material.
All in all, "Kon-Tiki" is a riveting journey that showcases the classic story of the underdog trying to prove himself against the doubters of the world. Even if the result seems inevitable and predictable, the path it takes features a number of engaging turns that will keep the viewer in fascinated suspense.
The film will be distributed by The Weinstein Company and opens in the United States on April 26, 2013.
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