Divided by tragedy but inseparable in spirit, The Impossible tells the true Story of a Family that travels to Thailand on vacation. Soon after they settle in, misfortune comes in a big way that December day in 2004 as a devastating Tsunami strikes, leaving tens of thousands stranded and over 220,000 dead.
Maria (Naomi Watts), a Doctor, is swept away and injured severely, with her young Son Lucas (Tom Holland) taking on the Caretaker role as she is rushed-off to Medical Care, fighting for her life a race against time to receive life-saving Leg and Chest Surgery. Husband Henry (Ewan McGregor) is separated from Maria, with their two Sons Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast) under his watch. He too however, is in a fight to keep his Sons by his side amidst the mass confusion as Aid Workers threaten to tear them apart amidst the chaos. We wonder, will this Family ever find their way back to one another and will Maria beat the odds to survive?
Spanish Director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage) takes María Belón‘s (the Woman whom Watts portrays) Story, turning it into a heart-wrenching and heart-warming experience at once. As Watts’ Maria is swept away among the debris, we feel we right there with every tide, thanks to Óscar Faura‘s masterful Cinematography. Although there are a few moments where we wonder if there just might be enough there to fill the Big Screen the entire time, alas we do walk away feeling fully invested in the well-being of this Family.
Watts herself delivers perhaps her strongest performance yet in what already has been a superb Résumé, digging deep into the Psyche of Woman suddenly forced to face her own Mortality, while coping with the loss of her beloved Family. At once she must remain in-control for the sake of her Son Lucas. Holland‘s Breakthrough Performance here is a real revelation, stamping him as a real Talent to look-out for, displaying a level of maturity and vulnerability which is many years beyond his young age of 16.
eOne Films releases The Impossible, now in theatres. A Film which every Family must see.
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