The Impossible (2012)

The Impossible is a film which will invariably cause conflict and backlash among critics and perhaps even victims of the event upon which this film is based. It is virtually impossible to avoid criticism when you are making a film which dramatizes a tragic disaster in human history – that event being the 2004 tsunami which struck Thailand on Boxing Day and claimed the lives of over 200,000 people.

In this film we follow the lives of the Bennett family, a perfectly normal family who were unprepared for the tragedy of the event and its repercussions. This is one stumbling block the film has faced in its critique, with many questioning the narrative approach. Why follow one family (who are English and don’t have to live with the long-term repercussions that a local Thai family would have to deal with) when you can look at many with a wider range of perspectives? This is a valid question, however I have to disagree with those who take this stance. I believe that by concentrating on one family we are forced to empathize with the emotional difficulties that they face. The unflinching depth to which the audience is shown this one family’s struggle is where the backbone of this film lies and heightens its sense of claustrophobia making the film much more realistic and emotionally resonant.

The film is based upon the real Belon family (who are Spanish in real life) and many of the events in the film depict the harrowing near-death experiences of the mother, Maria (played by Naomi Watts). The real Maria Belon, who hand-picked Watts for the role, acted as a consultant for this film and much of it was shot on location where the tsunami hit – which is a surreal and somewhat shocking piece of trivia that heightens the reality of the production. 

The film doesn't shy away from the true ferocity and destruction of those tsunami waves. Here we see the waves as they come crashing down and through the resort that the Belon/Bennett family were staying in. 

The shining stars of this piece are undoubtedly Watts, McGregor and the young Tom Holland who plays Lucas Bennett. It is with these three actors that much of the emotional burden of the film is left because there characters are the ones left with much of the responsibility. The film is separated into two parts – the first shows Maria and Lucas fighting to survive first the fraught tsunami waves and then Maria’s frequent encounters with death, the second part of the film shows McGregor trying to find the remaining members of his family with a heart-breaking determination and desperation. 

Watts gives an outstanding performance as a character suffering from the fear of the unknown while also struggling with the paradoxical need to maintain a show of responsibility for her child. With this performance Watts reminds us all that even adults get scared and need to be looked after, which is where Tom Holland’s character Lucas comes to the forefront. Holland’s character in this film undergoes a swift transformation from petulant teenager to responsible and kind-hearted adult with the burden of his Mother’s ailing health and he rises to this challenge admirably and with a youthful charm that reminds me of Jamie Bell in Billy Elliot (if you knew how much I love Billy Elliot then you would know this is quite a commendation!). 

The relationship between mother and child is subverted as Watts becomes increasingly dependent upon her frightened son, yet the love between these characters is a driving force of the film.

As ever McGregor gives an impeccable performance which, I’m sure, would resonate with many who have faced the possibility that they may never see their loved ones again. In one scene McGregor is burdened with a call home where he must admit that he can’t find his wife and son and in this scene, as McGregor breaks down in a room full of strangers, we see how his plight echoes on the face of all those he tells his story to. This is just one scene of many where the desperation of the situation is like a punch- to-the-face for the audience because suddenly this tragic disaster becomes a reality and not just something we saw on the news and read about in the newspapers. You can see this harrowing scene here: 

All-in-all (I’m sorry if I overuse that phrase in my posts) this film is a harrowing one which reflects not just a tragic event but also its tragic repercussions – mainly the loss of childhood innocence and the knowledge/burden that adulthood is, in part, just a title and state-of-mind. In desperate times, as this film teaches, humankind can only rely on the kindness of those around us and the hope that we can all rise (whatever our age or situation) to responsibility – even a responsibility that we fear, as Holland’s character shows in this film. This film is an inspiring tale of strength and hope and one which everyone should see...

To cut a long story short…Would I recommend this? Yes, but be warned that this is heart-breaking and in no way plays up to Hollywood ideals of a happily-ever-after. 
A film ramblers star rating? 

That’s it for now folks…