Ra (1972 film)

Ra is a 1972 documentary film chronicling Thor Heyerdahl's attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a papyrus boat, also named Ra, built in the style of ancient Egyptian vessels. The expedition aimed to demonstrate the possibility that ancient Egyptians could have sailed to the Americas, influencing pre-Columbian cultures.

The film documents the construction of the Ra, the challenges faced by the multinational crew during their voyage from Morocco, and the eventual sinking of the first Ra due to design flaws that caused the papyrus to disintegrate. The film also highlights the cultural exchanges and camaraderie that developed among the crew members from various nations.

Following the failure of the first attempt, Heyerdahl launched a second expedition with a redesigned papyrus boat, Ra II. This second voyage, while not fully documented in the original 1972 film (though it's often mentioned in the context of discussing the Ra expeditions), successfully crossed the Atlantic to Barbados, further supporting Heyerdahl's diffusionist theories.