William, Elizabeth, and their four sons Fritz, Ernest, Jack, and Franz are on a large ship when a terrible storm strikes. The ship’s crew gets to safety on lifeboats leaving behind the Swiss family. The family now stranded on the partially destroyed ship finds a small island. They pack up what materials are left on the boat, which includes guns and ammunition, livestock, some provisions, and even pieces of the ship. Now the Swiss family is faced with the ultimate scenario of survival as the father, William leads his family in a new, primitive way of life that they may never escape from.