The Impossible April 29, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Magick & Mystery, Nature, People.trackback
The 2004 Tsunami that rolled ashore on December 26th came out of the blue.
Families on holiday frolicked on beaches and played in pools, never suspecting the tidal tension heading their way in waves as the result of a massive earthquake.
When the waves came, they changed the landscape of those lives forever.
In The Impossible, we share the terrifying ordeal through the eyes of a family of five.
Living is life changing. Happiness lost. And found.
Watching the movie reminded me to notice all the good in my life.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, gave the film a perfect four star rating, praising the performances of Watts and McGregor, as well as the direction of Bayona, proclaiming it “one of the best films of the year.”
Have you seen it?
Spirit Lights The Way 
I watched the trailer – I will keep an eye out for it at the movies 🙂
It’s just been released on DVD in the states. Not sure about whether/when it will be released by you, Lorraine.
I cried through this trailer…I’ll be an absolute mess by the end of the movie! Is it on Netflix or did it just come out to theaters?
It was released on Netflix last week.
I had similar concerns about watching the movie, Suzi. I can be a bit squeamish about “icky bits.” But I decided to give it a look, knowing I could turn it off at any time. I’m glad I watched it.
The movie is a wonderful balance between challenge and triumph, conveying both the massive destructive force of the tsunami and the equally amazing force of the human spirit.
i think Redbox has it too.
Thanks, Eric. I expect that Netflix and Redbox acquire distribution rights in tandem . . . at least for the big box draws.
I shall try to be brave then!
As I said to Janna, “I might not have been able to avoid getting sucked under if I wasn’t feeling “calm and collected” at the outset.” Get yourself in a “good place” before pressing “play.”
I haven’t seen it, Nancy. I’ve been more in the mood for something light-but-not-silly. No such luck here.
Have you seen “Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day” (2008)? It’s the first movie that came to mind as light-but-not-silly.
Or perhaps “The Last Mimzy” (2007) ~ a bit unlikely, but very sweet.
This film is on my list of ‘must sees’. Just need to find the time. The trailer gives me chills every time I see it.
The movie puts you front and center in the action ~ at several points, I wondered what I would have done if I had been “in their shoes” as they faced impossible choices.
Superb film.
Sounds like it’s best to watch with some Valium. While I love those quasi-historical stories, they affect me for a long time afterward.
I know what you mean, Kate. It helps that this movie ends on a supremely happy note ~ the exclamation point to the saying, “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
That said, I don’t want to experience a tsunami first hand.
BFF’s reaction to the film: “I think we should move inland.”
I’ve heard good things about this film from people in the industry. It’s a good sign when a movie is respected inside and outside.
I found this movie to be better than I expected. Something I can’t say for most films.
Action. Drama. Love. Compassion. Strength. Fear. Pain. Joy.
I wasn’t going to see this movie because I couldn’t face more horror – but I trust your opinion Nancy and will watch it.
I fully understand your reservations, Rosie. But the message, as a whole, is uplifting . . . despite some unsettling moments.
It’s so good to remind ourselves that whatever the future holds, the Now can be treasured, Nancy. Thanks for this recommendation.
It’s the most interesting film I’ve seen in ages . . . and, to my great relief, it didn’t give me nightmares. 😯
Haven’t seen it but will certainly go when it is released here. Thanks
Given some of your recent movie reviews, I expect you’ll enjoy it ~ it definitely gives viewers something to think about.
I think if I watched this movie it would send me over the edge. The news footage was bad enough. It’s hard for me to believe something so horrible could happen. The depth of the tragedy is too much for me. Probably why I couldn’t relax the last time I was at the beach.
It’s not for everyone. I though it might be too much for me, but there were only a few minutes that were really difficult to watch.
I like Ewan McGregor a lot so I’d give it a try, but I have to ask. You say it’s a family of 5 and I only see 4 people on the movie poster. Where is the mom??? I need to know if one of the main characters dies before diving in… You can email me if you don’t want to spoil it for your readers.
There are only 4 people in the movie poster . . . but I’ll e-mail you about the “why.”
Thanks, I think I should see it but I’ll wait to hear from you. By the way, did you see Waiting for Superman? I finally got to it on DVD. A heart wrenching eye opener on the US educational system.
I haven’t seen Waiting for Superman . . . I’ll check it out.
I haven’t seen the film, “Impossible” yet, but I hear it’s exceptional and it’s on my list.
Hope you enjoy it, NC. They did a terrific job with a relatively low budget.
Okay – I started sobbing just watching the trailer! I know movies like this are inspirational and moving, but there may not be enough tissues in a box for me to watch this 😉
This might not be the movie for you, Dianne.
I believe I felt “stronger” than my norm the night I watched it, and may have steeled myself against the sad and scary bits. I was in the right frame of mind to step back into the role as “observer” without getting swamped myself.
I’d like to try. I’ve worked some on my “overly” emotional responses to some stimuli. At least I consider them a bit much in that they don’t release my sorrow, just make me look ugly and feel worse. I can’t be of service to people if I go all to pieces over their stories. This movie might help me with my self-control. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Oh, that will be an interesting experiment, Sandra.
When I started meditating, I learned to step into the role of “detached observer,” watching each thought arise without reacting to it or getting “attached” to the corresponding emotion.
As I practicied, I stayed in a state of alert curiosity: “Oh, that’s interesting” or “Oh, there’s a sad thought.” It helps.
Good luck.
I haven’t seen this movie, or even heard of it. It sounds like an emotional one. The fact you say it ends up on a high note would be the only thing that would encourage me to watch it. When I get Netflix, I’ll have to check it out 🙂
I might not have been able to avoid getting sucked under if I wasn’t feeling “calm and collected” at the outset. I got myself in a “good place” before pressing “play.” 😉
It’s tempting to watch, but I notice these days I get overwhelmed when I see tragedy. Sounds like a good movie though.
The extensive devastation might be too much for you, Marie. If you decide to watch, press “play” when you’re feeling strong, not fragile.
I wanted you to know I watched this movie last night. The tsunami scenes were very hard to watch but the movie wouldn’t have been the same without it. Knowing this was a true story and that all of them survived blew my mind. Family really is all that matters. Of course, I needed a box of tissues. Thanks for recommending the movie!
I’m glad you had a box of tissues by your side. I agree ~ the hard-to-watch scenes were needed to give a sense of the impossible odds faced by each of them.