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Kon-Tiki
2012 118 min Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom PG-13 6+
★7.5
Adventure, History
Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Trailers
Description
The true story about legendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his epic crossing of the Pacific on a balsa wood raft in 1947, in an effort to prove it was possible for South Americans to settle in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times.
Budget:
$16.6M
US Gross:
$1.52M
Starring
Pål Sverre Hagen
Actor
Anders Baasmo
Actor
Gustaf Skarsgård
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2013
— Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards 2013
— Best International Feature Film
European Film Awards 2013
— Audience Award
Key opinion
Kon-Tiki is widely regarded as a visually impressive and inspiring adventure film that captures the spirit of Thor Heyerdahl’s historic expedition. While many viewers praise its realistic aesthetic and the lead performance, others express frustration with the narrative's factual liberties and uneven pacing.
| Acting | Pål Sverre Hagen delivers a compelling, charismatic, and restrained performance as Thor Heyerdahl that anchors the film's emotional weight. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography effectively captures the vast, intimidating, and majestic nature of the Pacific Ocean through high-quality visual production. | |
| Adaptation | The screenplay deviates from historical reality by adding invented conflicts and dramatic embellishments, which creates friction for viewers seeking documentary accuracy. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is polarizing, with some finding the atmospheric tension masterfully sustained, while others perceive it as stagnant, slow to start, and lacking in sustained action. | |
| Production | The use of CGI is inconsistent, with some viewers admiring the practical sets and visual effects, while others find certain digital elements unconvincing or weak. |