Hedtoft - the personal story of the largest maritime catastrophe in the history of Greenland.

Award-winning short film dealing with the personal story of the greatest tragedy in Greenlandic maritime history, told by the grandson of one of the 95 passengers who lost their lives on the cold stormy night of January 30th, 1959, when M/S Hans Hedtoft - on its maiden voyage - allegedly hit an iceberg.
In Danish. Subtitled in English and Greenlandic, captioned in Danish.
Written, produced, and directed by: Inuk Jørgensen
Co-writer: Per Kunuk Lyberth-Lynge
Featuring All Hope Abandon by: Small Time Giants
Funding and support: the Nordic Institute in Greenland & Nordiska Filmskolan
Original photos courtesy of Narsaq Museum
Copyright: NukkiNukki Productions 2019.
Awards:
BEST SHORT FILM - Nuuk International Film Festival 2019
SILVER AWARD, Best Documentary Short - Independent Shorts Awards 2019
BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR NOMINEE - Oregon Film Festival 2020
More about the film: / hedtoftfilm or on IMDb
*This is the official KZbin version of the short film Hedtoft, with a slightly different edit, colorgrade, sounddesign, and soundtrack.
#grønlandskfilm #kortfilm #shortfilm #hedtoft

[@TheCarnivalguy]

As an ocean liner enthusiast, I’ve known about this ship for years. It’s a shame that interest is lacking in locating the Hans Hedtoft. Many questions may be answered upon finding the wreck. With no wreckage, it would appear she filled almost completely before sinking, and in one piece, hence no implosion to release interior floatable objects. But what happened to all of her lifeboats? I cannot imagine the sheer terror of the passengers and crew. So sorry for the loss of your grandfather.

[@inukjorgensen]

Thank you for the heartfelt comment. I couldn't agree more.

[@RunsHorses]

The Hans Hedtoft wreck has fascinated me for years. I hope there will be some discovery soon which can bring answers and closure to family members of the lost passengers and crew.

[@siggesaltens2663]

JA DET ER ABSOLUT PÅ TIDE AT SCANNE OMRÅDET. VI ER ENDNU NOGLE, GAMLE, DER HUSKER DEN MORGEN HVOR MEDDELELSEN KOM I RADIOEN.

[@inukjorgensen]

Godt sagt, og helt enig. Tak for engagementet.

[@cartooningfanart]

Smuk kortfilm. Godt arbejde. Hvil i fred til alle ombord.

[@inukjorgensen]

Tak. Det var vigtigt for alle involverede at lave en så respektfuld film som muligt.

[@jeffpuro1040]

The lack of interest in finding this ship is sad to say the least. I also wonder why none of the world's most notable underseas explorers haven't attempted even a most basic search.

[@inukjorgensen]

Couldn’t agree more. It really is a wonder that there is so little interest in finding a ship that caused so much controversy in Denmark at the time of its disappearance. From a Greenlandic perspective it also is a cause of much conspiracy that throughout the years there has been an almost complete lack of inclusion of the local population and their knowledge of the area and even the weather conditions on the day of the actually sinking. Many theories, as outlined in the film, point to other possible locations of the wreck based on new material that has come forth in recent times. Thanks for your interest.

[@hellekimery9537]

Interesting to hear this in detail, as my aunt Ruth died on this ship. My second name is Ruth, named after her. My aunt was so excited to be on its maiden voyage, and was proud she was chosen for a job, as a server. It broke my mom's heart and she talked about it often.. Thank you for this

[@inukjorgensen]

So sad to hear of the loss of your aunt all those years ago, I can imagine what a blow it must have been to the family. Unfortunately traumas like that live on through generations and as “an outsider” I feel very privileged to have learned so much about the tragedy by making this short film. It really is humbling on so many levels. Thank you for the comment and I am happy you like the film. Sincerely

[@WojciechWachniewski-st1zm]

Hello everybody. I know the story of Her a bit, but it is only JUST NOW, that i learn to know the colour of Her hull! It was RED, this being necessity in Polar waters with their masses of white/whitish ice. Thanks for showing me that. 🇵🇱👍🇩🇰

[@inukjorgensen]

You are right. Ships and air craft in Greenland are red so to easier stand out among the endless whites of the ice.

[@WojciechWachniewski-st1zm]

@@inukjorgensen Yes, but on the other hand ice is by no means white only. 🙂👍♍

[@pmenchions]

So sorry for your loss. I became aware of the sad tale of this vessel several years ago. I am still appalled at the apparent lack of interest in locating the wreck and bringing closure for the families. Having sailed through this area a couple of times I understand that the weather and visibility is generally horrible but surely there is a brief window perhaps in late summer when a sonar search could be carried out?

[@inukjorgensen]

Thank you for your kind comment. I will pass it on to Per Kunuk (the protagonist). I totally agree with you about the atrocity being carried out by not investigating this further with today’s equipment. I think it would bring peace to many families and I do honestly believe that it would be of international interest in finding out what really happened.

[@WojciechWachniewski-st1zm]

By the way, the HH disappeared on the RETURN LEG of her Maiden Voyage. Her outward bound passengers did reach their Greenland destinations safely. There were only 55 passengers on board; the remaining forty were crew members. Ships not coming back from maiden voyages fill in the pages of that huge book of shipping history. One of these had been the 'Maria Rickmers', that five-masted barque, that disappeared with no trace or sign in 1892, on the return leg of her maiden voyage to i.a. Cochin China. She had been a bit undermanned for her size; probably she could have been overwhelmed by monster wave on the Indian Ocean. As od that were not enough, the MR LOST her skipper, WHO died on sea, probably on the outward leg of her mv. ♍🇵🇱🇩🇰👍

[@nicolajp9037]

Flot video. Undre mig virkelig over at der ikke er blev gjort mere for at finde skibet den gang.

[@inukjorgensen]

Helt enig. Især når en masse af de observationer der er gjort af lokalbefolkningen den gang, og af flere uafhængige siden virkelig er begyndt at sætte spørgsmålstegn ved “den officielle forklaring”. Men det må blive en længere film en gang 😉 Tak for de fine ord.

[@MonTube2006]

What were these observations ? I also salute your efforts and détermination you display in this investigation. May their souls be blessed 🙏

[@ChristopherAOlsen]

Sjokkerende at det ikke har blitt gjort mer for å finne skipet. Rett og slett sjokkerende.

[@inukjorgensen]

Ja, det har du ret i. For flere af de efterladte er det jo stadig som et åbent sår, og for både det grønlandske såvel det danske samfund er der jo tale som en af de mest skelsættende begivenheder for arktisk søfart. Særligt for datidens og dagens Grønland spiller forliset en stor rolle. Tak for interessen.

[@marinamiranda5645]

You know that it took 73 years for the Titanic wreckage to be found? What I’m saying is that just because the wreck was never found doesn’t mean it’s not there. With new technology it will be easier for the wreck to be located. That would give closure and answer not only to you and victims’ loved ones, but also would give answers about what happened and a gravesite for a memorial. If I had any loved one on this ship I would want more effort to be made on finding the wreck. So sorry for your loss.

[@inukjorgensen]

Totally agree, and thank you for your kind comment.

[@kristianstorgaard9309]

Det skib bør findes koste hvad det koste vil.

[@inukjorgensen]

✊

[@sandraevejovinding8888]

Hej Per Kunuk Lynge, hvor gammel var du da skibet forliste?? Venlig hilsen Sandra Vinding

[@inukjorgensen]

Kære Sandra. Så vidt jeg ved er Per Kunuk født i 1955, altså ca. 4 år ved forliset. ❤️

[@bogeythedog163]

Denmark's Titanic