Shipwrecked

Shipwrecked

Year: 1990

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: Norwegian

Director: Nils Gaup

AdventureFamily

A young Norwegian boy in 1850s England goes to work as a cabin boy and discovers some of his shipmates are actually pirates.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Shipwrecked (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Shipwrecked (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1850s

Set in the mid-19th century, an era of wooden ships, naval patrols, and colonial trade routes. The period emphasizes strict maritime discipline, harsh punishments, and the perilous life of sailors. Technology and weaponry reflect the age of sail, with improvised defenses and manual seamanship shaping the crew’s fate.

Location

Norway, London, Sydney, tropical island

The story shifts between Norway and the sea, with stops in London and Sydney as the voyage unfolds. Much of the drama takes place aboard a sailing ship, then on a remote tropical island where Haakon must survive. The island and coastal towns provide the contrast between home and the perilous, lawless world at sea.

🌊 Seafaring 🗺️ Travel 🇳🇴 Norwegian voyage 🏝️ Island setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:32

Main Characters – Shipwrecked (1990)

Meet the key characters of Shipwrecked (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Haakon Haakonsen — Stian Smestad

A young Norwegian boy who becomes the ship’s cabin boy after his father’s injury. He grows from unsure and overwhelmed to resourceful and brave, learning seamanship and survival through hard experience. Along the way, he earns the respect of his shipmates and builds steadfast bonds with Jens and Mary.

🧒 Protagonist ⚓️ Seafarer-in-training 🤝 Loyal friend

Jens — Trond Peter Stamsø Munch

A trusted older friend of Haakon’s family who acts as a sea daddy, teaching him the ropes and looking out for him as the voyage progresses. He provides mentorship, protection, and moral support, forming a surrogate brotherhood with Haakon. His loyalty is tested when the ship faces danger and betrayal.

🧭 Mentor 🤝 Loyal ally 🌊 Sailor

Mary — Louisa Milwood-Haigh

A stowaway who becomes a love interest and a key companion for Haakon. She shares in the peril and hope of the crew, ultimately helping the group navigate the dangers of pirates and escape the brig. Her presence on the island adds emotional depth to the voyage.

❤️ Love interest 🧭 Companion 🏝️ Island ally

Lt. John Merrick / Howell

A ruthless pirate posing as a naval officer after murdering the real Howell. He manipulates the crew by exploiting fear and authority, smuggling guns on board and plotting to seize treasure. He is cunning, dangerous, and central to the ship’s unraveling before the storm and ensuing conflicts.

🗡️ Antagonist 🧠 Mastermind 🏴‍☠️ Pirate impostor

Captain

The respected ship captain who is poisoned by Howell’s first mate, setting off a chain of mutiny and confusion. His death marks a turning point in the voyage as Howell assumes command and the crew faces grave peril.

⚓️ Authority figure 🗡️ Victim of betrayal

Berg — Knut Walle

A survivor of the wreck who survived the sinking and later joins the rescue effort. He and Steine are old friends of Jens who endure loss and captivity before reuniting with Haakon.

🌊 Survivor 🤝 Allied ally

Steine — Harald Brenna

Another of Jens’ friends who survives the sinking and becomes part of the rescued crew. His loyalty to the group helps bolster their chances during the pirate confrontation.

🌊 Survivor 🧭 Loyal ally

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:32

Major Themes – Shipwrecked (1990)

Explore the central themes of Shipwrecked (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚓️ Adventure

The voyage and shipboard life propel the narrative forward as Haakon learns to navigate dangers at sea. Survival instincts, quick thinking, and improvised tactics drive him through storms, mutinous crews, and pirate threats. The tropical island becomes both a testing ground and a frontier for his growing independence.

🗝️ Identity

The masquerade of Lt. Howell as the pirate Merrick creates a web of deception that haunts the crew. Haakon must discern truth from illusion while navigating loyalties and hidden motives aboard the ship. The lure of stolen identity drives key confrontations and consequences.

🤝 Loyalty

Friendship and duty bind Haakon to Jens and Mary as they face betrayal and danger together. Jens serves as a protective elder brother, teaching seamanship and risking himself for Haakon. The shared struggle to reclaim the ship and protect their companions reinforces the power of trust and camaraderie.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:32

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Explore Movie Threads

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Young Heroes on High-Seas Adventures like in Shipwrecked

Hopeful stories of young protagonists proving their mettle on epic ocean voyages.If you enjoyed the seafaring journey in Shipwrecked, you'll love these movies featuring young protagonists on epic ocean adventures. Discover similar stories of courage, survival, and coming of age on the high seas, where treasure, treachery, and triumph await.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a straightforward, linear path: a youth leaves home for an ocean journey, encounters a crisis (shipwreck, pirates, mutiny), and must use their wits and newfound courage to survive and ultimately triumph. The journey is as much about internal growth as external adventure.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core structure of youthful adventure on the high seas, blending medium-intensity action with a hopeful tone. They feature determined young heroes, atmospheric maritime settings, and stories that balance tense survival moments with a heartwarming, satisfying conclusion.

Resourceful Survival Stories like in Shipwrecked

Stories of ingenuity and determination against the odds in beautiful but dangerous places.Fans of Shipwrecked's desert island survival sequence will enjoy these movies about resourceful characters stranded in exotic locales. Find similar tales of ingenuity, resilience, and the will to survive against nature's odds, all with a heartwarming and hopeful resolution.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character or group being thrust into an unfamiliar environment after a disaster. The middle act focuses on the practical and psychological challenges of survival—finding food, building shelter, facing wildlife—culminating in a successful escape or rescue that highlights the protagonist's growth and tenacity.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their central theme of resilient survival. They share a medium emotional weight, balancing tense survival moments with a fundamentally hopeful outlook. The pacing is steady, methodically showing the problem-solving process, and the endings are satisfying victories of spirit and cleverness over circumstance.

Unlock the Full Story of Shipwrecked

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Shipwrecked Summary

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Shipwrecked Summary

Shipwrecked Timeline

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Shipwrecked Timeline

Shipwrecked Spoiler-Free Summary

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Shipwrecked Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Shipwrecked

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