The Impossible
Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
Summit Entertainment
After seeing The Impossible, desires you might have had to vacation anywhere near a coast will probably be long forgotten.
The Impossible brings to life the tragic events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in an emotionally charged journey by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona.
The film is based on the true story of a Spanish family who experienced the tsunami during their vacation at a Thai resort. For the purposes of the film, the family has been made British with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in leading roles as mother and father, respectively.
After establishing the relationships between parents Maria, Henry, and their three young sons, tension comes to a head when the tsunami hits. It is a terrifying scene where the audience is pulled under the crashing waves following Maria (Watts) as the unforgiving torrents pull her through debris. Easily the most impressive scene of the movie, the practical effects of the water and the destruction are stunning. The effective sound editing adds well to portray the horrifying power of such natural disasters.
Once the waves have subsided we find that Maria and the eldest son Lucas (Tom Holland) have been separated from the others and struggle to find safety. Watts gives a strong performance portraying the badly wounded Maria, but the real star of the film is newcomer Holland whose acting brings incredible emotion to the film.
While Maria and Lucas struggle to stay alive, Henry and the two youngest sons are still at the resort, searching desperately for the others. McGregor pulls through with one of the most emotional scenes of the film in which he calls home to deliver news of the tsunami, leaving the audience feeling as distraught and heartbroken as Henry.
After a heart-rending and visually stunning first act, the second half seems to forget what made the first so engaging. A series of near misses as the family looks for each other slows down the pace and emotional scenes verge on sappy.
Regardless, the film still succeeds in showing the devastation and aftermath of the tsunami, relying solely on the family’s point of view. With a great director and powerful performances, The Impossible creates a compelling and moving story.
