The Impossible (2012) – ★★★★½

Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Writers: Sergio G. Sanchez (screenplay), Maria Belon (story)
Stars: Naomi Watts, Tom Holland, Ewan McGregor, Ploy Jindachote

The Impossible is one of the most emotional experiences I’ve ever had watching a movie. I haven’t cried so much watching a movie since Brokeback Mountain (2005), except this time it was much more powerful. With some of the best acting I’ve ever seen, a heart-wrenching story of survival, and cinematography that is breathtaking, The Impossible is definitely one of the greatest movies of 2012.


This is the true story of the Belon family, who were holidaying at a beachside resort in Thailand when the Boxing Day Tsunami wreaked havoc on the country. The family was split into two after the tsunami struck, with mother Maria (Naomi Watts) and her son Lucas (Tom Holland) in one place, and Ewan McGregor and the other two little boys in another. The first half of the film was the ‘wave striking’, and the last half was the displacement of the family and their search to find each other. Altogether, this is a movie I’ll never forget.

The highlight of the film is without a doubt the masterful performance of Naomi Watts. Not only is this the best performance by an actress in 2012, but it is one of the greatest performances of all time. It’s subtle, it’s real, it’s so darn emotional. Every gesture, every word, everything Watt’s did I connected to. She portrayed a real person, which is why she is the best.

Tom Holland played her son, and boy was his performance fantastic! The level of emotion he portrayed was astounding. One of the biggest sins of omission at the Academy Awards in 2012 is the fact that he wasn’t nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Ewan McGregor turned out a great performance too.

The special effects and the cinematography used to simulate the tsunami is, in a word, perfection. My goodness did it make my heart pound! It was as horrifying as watching the actual footage on the news. Not once did it feel like I was watching a movie during that sequence, which made it all the more devastating.

I think the word that describes The Impossible best is: ‘beautiful’. It is just beautiful. The acting was tremendous, and I get emotional just thinking about the characters and the scenes. It has fantastic music, cinematography, and a real heart at its core. I love this movie so much. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I could drink this tea any day.