First of all a warning. I had been told that several people were having trouble with the early scenes of this film, making them physically ill. The scenes that feature the natural disaster are quite shockingly realistic that it does make you feel ill. The camera work is fast, all over the place, the sound moves in and out as if you were being carried along by the water, and the screams of people make you feel like you are amongst them.
If you are in any way squeamish, or if you are unable to cope with truly distressing scenes, I would suggest that you watch this on video, as the big screen impact is quite full on. But don't let it put you off the film. This film is worth your time.
The Impossible is based on the true story of Spanish family, the Belons, who took a holiday in Thailand in Christmas 2006. This is of course was when the horrendous tsunami hit Asia on December 26th. The film has created a semi-fictional family that we meet on the plane to their holiday.
Naomi Watts is Brilliant as Maria Bennett, the mother of the family, who saves her eldest son but is seriously injured and falls into extreme illness. The rest of the film is about how the family search for each other, the fact that they never give up hope, even in the most dire of circumstances.
Ewan McGregor is also strong as Henry, the husband who looks for his wife and children.
But the real impact of this film is made by young English actor Tom Holland, as eldest son Lucas, who begins as a typical, surly teenage boy, and has to find the strength and maturity to care for his mother and find his family.
Whilst the second section of this film is fantastic, the stress and distress caused by the first half depicting the tsunami will lose a lot of viewers. I know of several who left the cinema to be ill. But if you can cope, please stick with it. As a very squeamish woman, I coped. and the result was worth it.
4 Orsons.
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