Kon-Tiki (2012)

Anders Baasmo: Herman Watzinger

Photos 

Quotes 

• Herman Watzinger : [about the ropes that keep united the raft]  It's our only chance. Our only hope now is to try and reinforce the ropes. Tighten up everything again.

  Thor Heyerdahl : Herman... We have built this raft just like Tiki did, and he made it there. And so will we. This is the faith we have.

  Herman Watzinger : Faith? This isn't a religion Thor. This is... insanity.

  Thor Heyerdahl : This is bigger than us.

  Herman Watzinger : Please. Look at the logs. Feel how your raft is moving.

  Thor Heyerdahl : Tiki knew.

  Herman Watzinger : My God!, you understand nothing? There's no one here except you who believes in Tiki!

  Thor Heyerdahl : No?

  [makes a pause. He looks everybody] 

  Thor Heyerdahl : Then what the hell are you doing here?

• Thor Heyerdahl : [sitting with Herman in a roof top at night]  Cheers!

  Herman Watzinger : I'm 32 years old. A refrigerator salesman, in a broken marriage. That's me. I really want to join that raft. I know it can be dangerous... but if you only knew how dangerous the refrigerator business was.

  Thor Heyerdahl : [serious]  No one can save us out there. You get that?

  Herman Watzinger : Except your theory. Captain.

  Thor Heyerdahl : [ironic]  You will definitely not freeze your leg off. I can promise that.

• Thor Heyerdahl : [almost finishing their travel]  We have traveled over 8000 kilometers, boys... but the fact is that the greatest danger is still ahead.

  Herman Watzinger : [sarcastic]  People?

  Thor Heyerdahl : No: the Raroia Reef. It lies like a wall around the entire island, with sharp coral.

  Torstein Raaby : [worried]  Why didn't you tell us?

  Thor Heyerdahl : [looking Raaby]  It was impossible to know exactly where we would end up.

• Knut Haugland : [after he saves Herman in the wáter, both sit down on the raft]  Three years ago, I shot four men. The Gestapo found me with a radio.

  Herman Watzinger : [laconic]  It was war.

  Knut Haugland : That's what Torstein says. He helped sinking the Tirpitz, but that doesn't bother him. Thank you.

  Herman Watzinger : [confused]  You're the one who saved my life.

  Knut Haugland : That's what I mean. Thank you.

• Knut Haugland : [about how to avoid Raroia Reef to arrive mainland]  What alternatives do we have?

  Herman Watzinger : We could try to surf over.

  Knut Haugland : [skeptic]  Surf?

  Herman Watzinger : [taking paper and pen to drawn it]  Yes. Waves come in cycles of 13. Every 13th wave is substantially greater than the ther. When we are close to the reef we throw out an anchor, something heavy that can keep the raft in place.

  Erik Hesselberg : And then?

  Herman Watzinger : Then we count the waves. And just before the 13th wave we cut the rope, and hopefully, surf over the reef. It could work.

  Thor Heyerdahl : [looking Herman]  I like it. Let's do it. That's what we'll do.