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Film: The Impossible


scene from The Impossible

scene from The Impossible

This graphic film by Spanish director Juan Antonion Bayona tells the harrowing story of one family who were caught up in the 2004 tsunami that left more than 250,000 people dead and caused immense destruction across the coastlands of the Indian Ocean.

The story opens during a bumpy flight as Maria, (Naomi Watts) Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three slightly fractious young sons start their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. The setting is gorgeous, and they are just beginning to unwind on Boxing Day after the Christmas festivities, when a terrifying roar rises up from the centre of the earth and the huge wave begins barrels toward the beach, engulfing everything in its course. The re-creation of the wave and its horrific aftermath are spectacular, but the real heart of the film is the relationships between the family members - especially the eldest boy Lucas (Tom Holland) and his badly injured mother.

The pair manage to rescue a little toddler hidden underneath some debris. They clamber up a tree to safety and eventually are found by some Thai villagers who take them to a hospital where Maria undergoes surgery. Here, on instructions from his mum Lucas sets about trying to help people find their lost relatives, only to return to her bedside to find it empty. It is one of the most devastating moments in the film.

There are some fine performances - especially from Tom Holland and Naomi Watts as well as Samuel Joslin and Oaklee Pendergast as the young brothers.

Some have criticised the film for mainly focussing on the experiences of the foreign tourists, when so many more Thais were killed. But survivors have praised the film for its authenticity - this was how it was for tourists and there will probably be more films made telling other people's stories. Right at the end we learn that the story was based on a real family, although they were Spanish - dark, not the blond haired - as shown in the film.

One thing that struck me was the complete lack of religion in the film. Even at my most faithless I think if a thousand foot wave started approaching me at high speed, I might have said a quick prayer. Buddhist monks also are not featured in the film although they played a very important role in caring for the survivors and identifying the dead.

One symbolic spiritual image comes early in the film during the Christmas party where the guests release dozens of paper lanterns into the night sky. Towards the end of the film an elderly woman, (played by Geraldine Chaplin) reflects with young Lucas on the light from stars that may now be dead.

Although not for the faint hearted - there are some very gory moments - this is a very touching film that demonstrates the power of love and simple human kindness in the face of appalling adversity.

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