Years ago, I saw a profoundly impactful film, which I've been remembering because of the desperate situation we Venezuelans are currently experiencing. I'm trying to clear my mind of the events that have transpired, but I can't stop thinking about the thousands of people whose lives were changed on June 24th.
The film is called The Impossible, from 2012, and it recounts the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, based on a true story. The tsunami sequence is truly shocking. At first, I thought it was a film with no basis in reality, but then I found out it was based on real events that occurred during a powerful tsunami in Thailand.
The first half hour of the film is filled with a very distressing tension. The story introduces us to an ordinary family, like any normal family, spending their vacation at the beach, but the peace at the hotel where they are staying is suddenly shattered by a terrifying sound. A huge wave is approaching, a gigantic and brutal tsunami; The film's director confronted us with incredibly realistic and harrowing effects. I particularly suffered watching the moments when the mother persistently fought for her life alongside her son, and despite the dire situation, managed to evade all dangers.
After being swept away by miles of floodwaters, Maria (Naomi Watts) and her eldest son, Lucas (Tom Holland), manage to find each other. Maria suffers severe injuries, especially a deep laceration to her leg and chest after colliding with underwater debris. Lucas, her teenage son, becomes her greatest support. In their arduous journey to survive, they manage to save a young boy named Daniel and are rescued by local Thais, who take Maria to a completely overwhelmed local hospital. There, Maria is mistakenly declared dead in a moment of administrative chaos, which almost permanently separates Lucas from her, but the misunderstanding is resolved. Lucas spends his time helping other patients at the hospital find their families.
Meanwhile, her husband Henry and their two youngest sons, Thomas and Simon, are separated from her. Henry will do everything in his power to find his wife Maria and their eldest son. He leaves the two boys in a shelter and embarks on a mission: his goal is to fight until he finds them.
After several attempts, always expecting the worst, Henry manages to find his wife and eldest son. In the end, amidst overwhelming emotion, the family is reunited. The only one receiving medical attention is the mother, who suffered the most severe injuries.
The film is hopeful and shows us how strong family bonds are and the importance of always staying united. I empathize with this family who suffered in this tsunami, and I also empathize with the thousands of Venezuelans who are suffering today from the devastating earthquake of June 24th, exactly yesterday, in the year 2026.
I used Google Translate (my native language is Spanish)
Rating: 100/100