Le Radeau de la Meduse

Based on one of the most notorious episodes in French naval history. During July 1816 the French frigate Medusa leaves Guadalupe en route to Senegal. On board is a crew sympathetic to the recently defeated Napoleon Bonaparte and a captain who hasn't sailed for twenty years and is close to the restored king, Louis XVIII. Despite warnings from the crew, the captain steers the frigate into a sandbank, prompting the passengers to take to the five lifeboats; the 150 crew and soldiers are corralled onto a makeshift raft. The lifeboats tow the raft until the captain orders the lines to be cut. For 14 days the crew drifts. Cannibalism ensues and when a passing ship finally picks up the survivors only 15 are left.