[sailor] Land, ho! [narrator] For 17-year-old Georg Forster,
it is the beginning of a new life. [screams] Full of danger and discovery.
In the summer of 1772, he embarks on a journey that will take him
to the edges of the known world. And beyond. I set off in search of a man who is today
all but unknown except among naturalists, but who was world famous
during his lifetime. My quest takes me halfway
around the world. Georg Forster's journey lasts three years. His experiences will shape
him for the rest of his life and turn all his beliefs upside down. Captain. [narrator] Alongside many discoveries,
the young German brings back the idea of a new and better society. The foray into the South Seas
230 years ago changed not only one young man
but the whole world. [seagull caws] [narrator] July 1772. Reinhold Forster and his 17-year-old
son Georg arrive heavily laden at the port of Plymouth. Their luggage includes books, everything that has been written
about the South Sea so far. The Germans accompany
the renowned Captain James Cook, who is tasked with the search for the mysterious
Terra Australis Incognita, the legendary southern continent. The knowledge about this world
is based solely on vague assumptions, myths,
and vivid seafaring tales. The Forsters are not put off by this. Their interests lie in science
and gaining knowledge. -[seagulls caw]
-[narrator] Plymouth is a fateful place. The victory against the Spanish Armada,
the colonization of the Americas, Cook's voyages around the world.
Everything began here. [Atzorn in German]
This lighthouse in Plymouth, the Smeaton's Tower,
was the last Georg Forster saw of Europe before he left
for an entirely foreign world. Imagine to board a ship at the age of 17 that will explore completely different
worlds over the next years, far away from home. A young lad, with no experience in life, follows his strict father
and the most renowned seafarer of his time on a daring expedition. [narrator] In those days,
a voyage around the world is an adventure of indefinite time
and with an uncertain outcome. Nevertheless, Reinhold Forster
and his son embark on the challenge, driven by their thirst for knowledge. [men shouting] The 17-year-old is one of the youngest
aboard the Resolution, but he has already seen a lot. For years, he accompanied
his father on his expeditions and has witnessed much injustice
in Russia and England. On this journey,
Georg hopes to find a better world. [seagulls caw] [Atzorn]
No one knows if there will be a return. What are Georg Forster's thoughts when he looks at the Smeaton's Tower
for the last time? Does he believe to find answers to the most important questions
of humankind on this journey? Could there be a place
where people are not categorized in top and bottom, first and second class? Where people are free
and live together in harmony? Important questions for a 17-year-old. It's the same questions
that I asked myself at his age and to which I haven't found
answers until this day. Georg Forster was willing
to risk his life for them. The journey was unpredictable, although he probably had the best captain
of his time with James Cook. [narrator]
Captain James Cook is a living legend. His first expedition to the South Sea
took place only one year ago. But there is still
one unanswered question: Does the legendary
Terra Australis Incognita, a vast, fertile land
at the South Pole, really exist? Many scientists believe in its existence, since they are convinced the landmass
in the north requires a counterweight. Otherwise, the earth
would spin out of control. England has high hopes for new wealth
through its discovery. Due to Cook's efforts, this question
will be answered once and for all. I have read a lot about him.
He was a great captain. However, the voyage to the other side
of the world is anything but easy. The crew has to obey
Cook's orders without question and so has Georg Forster. What a situation. Right in the middle of a great adventure, on a journey into the unknown,
but in the shadows of two great men: The one of his father and the one of the famous
Captain James Cook. [man] Set sail! [narrator] It is cramped on board. The only 34 meters long Resolution
has a crew of 112 men, among them the Forsters. The father, being a well-known scientist
at the time, was hired by Captain Cook as a researcher. His son Georg is accompanying him
as an illustrator. But just like the rest of the crew, the Forsters have no knowledge
of the plans and secrets of the captain. Especially not about how he intends
to exactly determine the location of the legendary
southern continent. The contents of this box will play
a decisive role in this matter. The secret of this box leads me
to this planetarium in a suburb of London. At that time, everything here revolves
around the measuring of the world and around the question
of how to exactly determine longitudes. [birds chirping] [Atzorn] In the 18th century, this line in Greenwich,
the so-called prime meridian, becomes the focal point
for the accurate positioning of a ship. Starting at this point, all longitudes around the world
were determined. [narrator] For seafaring,
Greenwich is the center of the world. I know that the earth
is divided into 360 longitudes and revolves around itself in 24 hours. When it is 12 p.m. here in Greenwich,
and already 1 p.m. in Berlin, then Berlin must be
around 15 longitudes away. [Atzorn]
This line in Greenwich is a great idea, but the problem is how to monitor this during an expedition
that lasts several years. Far away from England... In the unknown expanses
of the South Pacific... [narrator] Theoretically, determining a position only requires
two precise time pieces, one with the time on board,
the other one with the time in Greenwich. What sounds simple today,
was a huge problem at that time. Because watches were far
from being precise. Therefore,
by the order of the English Parliament, two completely new time pieces
that will revolutionize positioning are manufactured for Cook. One is made to show the exact time
in Greenwich over many years. The other will show
the respective local time. With both times, it is possible
to precisely determine the longitudes. The box with these high-tech watches is
accordingly well-guarded during transport. -Its contents are worth a fortune.
-Move! And the success of the circumnavigation
of the world depends on them. No one is allowed to get
near the time pieces. Neither is Georg Forster. Sir! [men talking] Captain. Each day, James Cook has to determine time
and position by comparing both watches. For the first time
in the history of seafaring, the captain knows exactly
at what position he is located. [speaking German] [narrator] Cook's watches are
until this day masterpieces of precision. But I realize that the old longitude
in Greenwich is a mere tourist attraction. Today, the exact position
of the prime meridian is determined by modern satellite measurement, which has shifted
its position considerably. Three... two... one... zero. That's great, 80 meters! [narrator] At the time, this deviation
almost doesn't make a difference. Cook and his crew
are facing other problems. During the weeks at sea, there are neither fruits
nor fresh vegetables. These men are threatened
with the dreaded scurvy, a lack of vitamin C. [waves] On earlier voyages, countless seafarers
have died because of this. [coughing] Therefore, the captain orders his men
to eat sauerkraut every day. Cook hopes to avoid
the disease with this method. Forster observes this experiment
and meticulously records the results. -Care to join us in a belt of rum?
-[Georg] What? [narrator] Georg is astonished by the
amount of liquor consumed by the men. Hardly a minute passes on board
without a cup of rum making the rounds. No wonder numerous rumors and stories about the strange creatures
that await the ship and its crew at the other end of the world
spread on board. [drum beating] At the time, the cargo holds
were always well equipped with liquor. The crew guzzles 65 of these barrels
per month. That makes 3.5 liters per head a day! Hard to imagine,
but there is a good reason for it. Drinkable water quickly turns
into a nasty brackish liquid on board. Alcohol lasts longer
and has the side effect of making the hard daily routine
on board more bearable. On the other hand, I wouldn't want
to be part of a crew of 112 men, sailing across the seas intoxicated,
every day. [burps] [Atzorn] Georg Forster
does not get distracted by that, but he has no choice. During this time, he studies the travel
journals of earlier seafarers and is taught some Polynesian
by one of the sailors who was part of Cook's first voyage
into the South Sea. [speaking Polynesian] [laughs] [narrator] From the southern tip of Africa
the Resolution heads for Antarctica. James Cook is obsessed with his mission to reach the southern continent
as fast as possible. For all men on board,
the hardest time is just beginning. Even in December and January,
when it is summer in the Antarctic Ocean, the temperature is rarely
above zero degrees Centigrade. In this world of eternal ice and snow, the ship provides almost no protection
from the biting cold. Still, Cook relentlessly pursues
his course. For the first time
in the history of seafaring... a ship crosses the Antarctic Circle. The anticipated fertile southern continent
is nowhere in sight. All the land is covered in ice, and there are only few living beings
that survive here. Georg uses every moment to draw them.
He is not daunted by the icy cold. For his observations,
he is ready to take on anything. I remember my own craving
for new experiences that drove me out of the house. I just wanted to get out
and find my own identity. I would have given a lot to have
a chance like Georg Forster to discover entirely new worlds. [narrator] He is constantly aware
of his surroundings and always ready to discover new things. That makes him notice a mysterious
spectacle of light during one night. He names it "Aurora australis",
its name until today. This is the barely 18-year-old Georg
Forster's first scientific discovery. On February 24th, 1773,
the Resolution leaves the Antarctic Ocean. Forster writes about a gloomy sadness
among the crew, caused by the lack of sunlight. Cook does not stop in Australia
but sails further to the east. On his first voyage around the world
two years ago, Cook had already spent
some months in New Zealand, where he is heading again
this time around. On March 17th, the long-awaited call
finally sounds through the air. Land, ho! Land, ho! Starboard ahead! [narrator] After 122 days at sea, the ship finally arrives
at the southern tip of New Zealand. Georg and his father
are eager to leave the ship... although they have no idea
what awaits them. Peaceful inhabitants or fierce warriors? [seagulls caw] As was usual at that time,
James Cook lets fire some warning shots... Just to make sure. To Georg, New Zealand
appears to be a paradise. He writes in self-deprecation: "After a long time away from land,
it is easy to regard even the most barren of coasts
as the most beautiful land in this world." For weeks, the men have been dreaming
of fresh water. Since the last shore leave in Africa
they did not have a chance to bathe. And that was already four months ago. Whoo. [men talking happily] Whoo. [narrator]
Despite the joy at the long-awaited bath, the men are constantly on alert. There is always someone standing guard. At the same time, the captain
and his officers experience firsthand how fast a situation can change. -[makes a battle cry]
-[speaking Maori] [makes a battle cry] With gestures and grimaces, the local Maori express
their readiness for battle. [battle cries] Now everything depends on how Cook handles
the first encounter with these warriors. [battle cry] Fortunately for the captain,
he has been here before and knows the customs and how to behave. The nose kiss is a symbol
of peace and friendship. For the time being,
they are out of danger. Georg is deeply impressed
by these people and their rituals. Open and full of curiosity,
he seeks contact himself. He is interested in everything
and immediately thinks about the collection
he hopes to take home. [speaking Maori] Tools and weapons would make a good start. [speaking Maori] He is especially fond of the Mere,
a short melee weapon. The owner of a Mere made
of pure jade is regarded as a mighty warrior by the Maori. [speaking Maori] -[Atzorn] Here are the famous clubs?
-[man] Right, we see them here. [narrator] Forster's Mere are some
of the most beautiful pieces in the Ethnographic Collection
in Göttingen. -[Atzorn] It really was Forster's?
-[man] Yes, right. How is it used? Alright. And this lance as well? Yes, this is also one of the pieces he brought back home by himself. [narrator] Forster's discoveries
are captivating even today. Absolutely beautiful. Okay, thanks a lot. They show that he was repeatedly looking
for contact with the local population. He saw his task not in
"drying weeds and collecting butterflies", as he wrote self-mockingly, but in the understanding of how people
outside of Europe were living together. He was curious about their customs
and practices and their religions. He stands out for his open-minded
and unbiased view which makes him the founder
of modern ethnology. [narrator] Soon, however,
the old horror stories and legends seem to become reality in New Zealand. [speaking Maori] One evening, the seafarers meet a local
who carries a terrifying prey with him. The warrior has brought a trophy
from a fight and wants to sell it. The sailors trade it for an iron nail. You've got to attach it. It is the head of a young Maori warrior
from a hostile tribe. Back at the beach, the traded item
causes different reactions from the Maori and the Europeans. What? The white men are horrified
by the basket's content. They have never seen
something like this before. [sailor] It's a bloody head. The Maori, however,
are completely unimpressed by it and indicate that they are even willing
to eat it. [men talking] Georg, the cool observer, quickly realizes that this is an old Maori tradition
and not barbarism. In the library
at the University of Göttingen, I look for old reports
about encounters with cannibals. These depict the indigenous people
only as savages, without culture, cruel and repulsive. Forster, in contrast, sees things
in a completely different light. Forster is the first eyewitness
from Europe who observes cannibals
in a scientific way. But here as well, the only 18-year-old
keeps a cool head and has remarkable thoughts for that time. He notes, "What is the difference
between the New Zealander, who kills his enemy at war and eats him,
compared to the Europeans? We may not be cannibals anymore but we do not think of it
as cruel or unnatural to kill thousands of people
just to satisfy the ambition of a ruler." This bold view, which is bound
to displease the sovereigns of Europe, will change Forster's life. Forever. [wheel turning] [narrator] After two months on shore,
the captain orders to weigh anchor. Right! [narrator] Cook wants to reach
the Polynesian islands before the southern winter begins. Once again, the crew faces weeks at sea. It's a waste of time
for the scientists on board. Georg's father is angry,
he does not want to leave. [in German] This is intolerable! [narrator] He wants to continue
his research -and openly challenges Captain Cook.
-Quiet now! But Cook simply ignores
the renowned scientist. Quarrel achieves nothing.
I will take care of it for you. Trust me. I'm going to handle it. [narrator] Georg attempts to mediate. [Georg] Captain. Please excuse the manners of my father.
But you need to understand his position. We are here to do research and his... [narrator] The captain is impressed
by Georg's calm manner. With his respect
for the young man growing, old Forster's reputation is diminishing. Weeks at sea pass without changes in the tense atmosphere. [speaking German] James Cook reigns without restrictions
and tolerates no opposition. One year, one month,
and two days have passed since their departure from Plymouth. But with the help of the watches
from London, Cook navigates his ship masterfully
from one location to the next. Cook's next destination
is the island Tahiti for the crew, this is paradise on earth. Two months after their departure
from New Zealand, Georg Forster writes in his diary:
"It was morning, a poet hardly could have
described it more beautiful, when we spotted the island O-Tahiti
two miles in front of us." In no time at all,
the sailors prepare for shore leave, faster than ever before. They know the island from earlier voyages
and look forward to what awaits them here. For Georg it is the arrival
in a different world. He and the men are greeted with open arms
and countless presents. [speaking Tahitian] No one carries a weapon
and Georg is fascinated by the gentle nature of the island people
which enthuses him from the beginning. [birds chirping] Not long after,
father and son leave the beach for the unexplored forests. For the scientists,
this is the Garden of Eden. Almost all the plants are edible. There is an abundance of food. Georg thinks, if something like this
existed in Europe, everyone would be as happy
and carefree as the people here. Nobody would have to sell themselves
for a loaf of bread. Even the poorest would be free. The Forsters eagerly start
to collect samples. In Göttingen, I discover their legacy. The city's university collection houses
folders full of dried plants. Real treasures for science.
And one of its biggest: The South Sea collection of the Forsters. For this, Georg Forster and his father
were hired. They are supposed to explore
the foreign animals and plants. They bring back
thousands of illustrations and objects. Most of them unknown in Europe. The Forsters discover 270 new plants and 241 animals and they name all of them. Even today's scientists benefit
from the Forster collection. The dried plants that have
been lying here for almost 250 years are analyzed for genetic material. With this, the scientists
hope to gain important clues about what types of plants have spread
around the world in what way. Georg Forster could not have imagined how important his collection
would become in the future. [narrator] While on Tahiti, Georg realizes
that there is no paradise on earth. [woman shouting in the distance] In his journal he writes: "The sight
of the women is enough to rob the sailors of the last
prudence required to keep their passions under control." Even though most of the men
have venereal diseases. [laughing] They thoughtlessly infect
the women and bring them doom. Georg cannot condone this behavior
and visits the captain. Captain, you have seen
what the men out there... [Georg sighs] Captain. Shouldn't you do something about it? Captain. Thank you. [narrator]
But Cook feels closer to his men than to the people of this island. Years later, Georg writes
about his experiences in Tahiti and questions science. Because if knowledge can
only be gained by jeopardizing the happiness of entire peoples then the South Sea should have remained
forever unknown to all the Europeans. [birds chirping] This is an astonishing
perspective for an 18-year-old who himself experiences
tender love in Tahiti. Imiroa is the name of the beautiful woman
who turns Georg's head. And for the first time in his life the usually eager to learn Georg
wishes that time would stand still. [uplifting music] Come, Georg! [narrator]
But his father, a former pastor, does not appreciate
the feelings of his son. [Georg's father] Georg! For the old man, who has left his wife
and children behind without any regard, only science is of importance. Come! -[drum beats]
-[people cheer] [narrator] With each passing day
Georg spends on Tahiti, he learns that even
in a would-be paradise, not everyone is equal. [menacing music] A religious ceremony proves to him that here, too, top and bottom exist and that the society is divided
into rulers and servants. It's a bitter realization for Georg. All over the world people are similar
in their strengths and weaknesses. [drum beats] The plump shaman chieftain
in the South Sea lives at the expense of his subjects, exactly like the clergy and nobility
in England. I discover the last vestiges
of this culture on Hawaii. Four thousand kilometers away from Tahiti. There is not much left
of the exoticism of Forster's time. But nevertheless, the word South Sea alone
has a special ring to it until today. The temptations of the islands
must have been irresistible for the sailors from Europe. But after weeks of idleness,
Cook gives the order to set sail. Man overboard! [narrator] John Marra, a sailor from
Ireland, does not want to return home. There, only hunger and hardship await him. -[sailor] Man overboard!
-Come on, hurry up! [men shouting] [narrator]
But the rules at sea are relentless. Without the captain's permission,
no one is allowed to leave the ship. [Marra groans] Marra fights for a life in freedom
but has no chance to flee. [Marra grunts] [groans] The same strict rules of seafaring
force the captain to set an example. [screams] Because for him, Marra's attempted escape
is a threat to his authority. [squalls in pain] [whip cracks] Georg is shocked
by this brutal punishment. [Marra squalls in pain] But he does not dare to openly revolt
against Cook. Even though he understands Marra's desire
for freedom from the bottom of his heart, as is evident from a note
in the diary of the 18-year-old. [shouts of pain continue in the distance] [Georg] "The highest happiness he
might have achieved in England didn't give Marra more hope than to live
as happily as an ordinary Tahitian." Cook's treatment of Marra
is a severe blow to him. Forster had hoped for a positive
outcome of the voyage. But now, he does not expect it any longer. Especially not for the sailors, whose same unfortunate life
awaits them at home. The sweet life the men enjoy
here will never become a reality for them in Europe. But Forster's thoughts revolve
not only around the sailors. Like no one before, the young man realizes how fast the life of the Polynesians
has been changing since the arrival of the white men
in an irreversible manner. The sailors brought diseases
with them that didn't exist before. The conclusion he reaches
is devastating for him: Paradise cannot be found
without destroying it. [narrator] So Cook's quest
for the southern continent has changed the world, although the hoped-for fertile land
does not exist. Instead, he discovers on his journey west the, at this time,
still-uncharted small island of Tanna. [adventure music] Like most islands in the South Sea, Tanna was created by a volcano
that is still active. A chance of a lifetime for the Forsters to observe this natural
phenomenon at close range. They immediately set out
on a journey to the crater. Look, there. [Georg] Sulfur is leaking out of here. [narrator] They have no idea how great a sacrilege
this is in the eyes of the natives. A sacrilege which may even be
punishable by death. Shortly before they reach
the rim of the crater, their path is blocked. But Georg's father does not want
to let these savages stop him. Taboo. Hold it. [narrator] Georg can barely stop his
father from shooting the natives and thereby saves their own lives as well. Unlike the Forsters at that time,
I can walk up to the peak. But I have an uneasy feeling that probably
everyone knows who has climbed a volcano: Man does not belong here.
This is a taboo zone of nature. [Atzorn] It was a taboo.
Today, everybody knows the word taboo. It originates with the peoples
of the South Sea. There, taboo stands
for something positive, meaning respect. It forbids the entering of a sacred place. Georg Forster hears this word
for the first time as he is about to explore a volcano
together with his father. For him it is natural to respect
the taboos of the native people. In his eyes,
every person has the same rights. This is a really decisive moment
in his still young life. For the first time ever,
he opposes his father. The son becomes a man
who makes his own decisions. In this moment, Georg Forster overthrows
the entire old European order because he takes the natives
and their foreign culture seriously. This required tremendous courage
at the time. [waves crashing] [narrator] With his keen eye, Georg more and more frequently
witnesses conflicts that occur because one side
does not understand the other and is oblivious
to their customs and practices. [menacing music] The Europeans have laid a demarcation line to keep the natives away
from their anchorage. [speaking Tahitian] But the men from Tanna cannot understand
the division of their own beach. This is our line. We have established it.
You will not cross the line. [speaking Tahitian] If you cross this line,
you will be shot by my men. [narrator] Despite all warnings,
they cross the line. Shoot him! [narrator] Following their orders,
the sailors punish this violation. [waves crashing] For Georg, this is nothing but murder. He is certain: The captain has to punish
the officer who gave the order to shoot. After Georg has already prevailed
against his father, now the 18-year-old even challenges
the untouchable captain. But both conflicts have
the same underlying issue. [sailors shouting] [narrator] James Cook has no intention
to punish his officer just because a young starry-eyed idealist
speaks up against him. Forster has to realize
that even the great captain believes to always be in the right
against the native people. A thought that is completely alien to him. [sailors shouting] Georg Forster does not divide people
into first and second class. In his eyes, every person has
the same rights and obligations. But he experiences how his father
would even accept a murder for the sake of science. And even the world-famous captain
is no better. He does not punish
the deadly shot at a native so his mission can continue uninterrupted. These are crucial experiences
for the young scientist. The fight for greater justice
becomes his purpose in life. [narrator] Here, at the end of the world,
Georg Forster turns into a revolutionary. Georg has spent over three long years
on board. He came as an assistant to his father, but he soon developed into an explorer
and natural scientist himself. But Georg learned the most about humans. [sailors snoring] About what they love and fear.
How they understand or condemn others. And that paradises only exist
as long they are never discovered. The Smeaton's Tower
was the first of Europe that Georg Forster saw
at his return from the South Sea. The foray into the South Sea 230 years ago
has not only changed the young man but the whole world. Already at the end of the 18th century, Georg Forster realizes that research
is not conducted in a vacuum but that it also revolves around humans. Research can change the world,
sometimes for the better, but often enough for the worse. [in German] ♪ Only freedom or death
Only freedom or death ♪ [narrator] Eighteen years later in Mainz, Georg Forster learns
that everything comes at a price. In 1793, he is one of the founding
fathers of the Republic of Mainz. He still believes
in the inherent good in people, that everybody has the right to be free,
and that all humans are equal. Thoughts that matured on his voyage
through the South Sea with Captain Cook. He is now on his way to Paris where he is supposed to petition
for a union with a revolutionary France. Johann Wolfgang Goethe
mentions in his Faust a power that eternally wills evil
and eternally creates good. For Forster, of whom Goethe
was an admirer. By the way... oh, a taxi. It often seemed to be the other way round. To the railway station, please. [Atzorn] Often he had experienced that people wanted
to create something good but the outcome was bad. Be it in the heavenly South Sea... [narrator] Or in revolutionary Mainz. [moans in pain] Forster is still in Paris
when Prussian troops invade Mainz and destroy the dream of freedom for all. The first democratic republic
on German soil is no match for the weapons of these soldiers. [soldier] Off with your hat. [narrator] Georg Forster is declared a
traitor. While seriously ill with pneumonia, he has to witness the guillotine's reign
of terror in France. [bells toll] He, who always stood up
for freedom and justice, will never experience them himself. [wheezes] And despite all his experiences,
at the bottom of his heart Georg Forster remains the young man
who once set out from Plymouth at the age of 17 in search
of a better world. And for that, I have admired him
since the first time I heard about him.
