The Impossible

I don't exactly know how to begin this review, because I'm getting tears on my keyboard as I write it after seeing this brilliant triumph of humanity in the form of a film. It tells the true story of a family who are separated in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and their hopeful pursuit to find one another. While the story is based on a Spanish family's struggles, the family in the film is English, I don't know why they made this decision but with superb acting from Naomi Watts, Ewan Mcgregor and newcomer Tom Holland, you can't fault it. It makes me EXTREMELY angry when the very small percent of critics say things like "The movie is about how one of the worst disasters to ever visit Thailand was really tough on the English." I don't know if it's because I'm British or because I'm sane but this review by a man that will remain nameless makes me want to punch him in his ridiculous, blind face! The important thing is that the story is told and becomes part of our film history. The movie honours everyone lost in this catastrophe and the focus in this film is one family's survival who in real life ARE Spanish but in The Impossible they're depicted as English, so if they got a bunch of Spanish actors to play the family would the comment be the same - if so its still ridiculous because this is ONE story however if the review is different it would only prove he's got something against the English. The story here is the miracle and Director Juan Antonio Bayona recognises this. In the film you see people of every nationality suffering and the stunning cinematography shows the horror of this disaster as close to the truth as it can get without being overwhelmingly frightful. This life-affirming movie of love, courage and hope in the face of devastating loss is truly a masterpiece and I hope that people all around the world see it and realise just how bad the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was, because we were given facts and shown images but The Impossible gives us insight that everyone should have but no one should feel okay about. A spectacular piece of film making that is truly treasured and admired. 5 out of 5.