Lionsgate Films
The element water is associated with the Moon’s nurturing, emotion and caring. But in “The Impossible,” directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, wetness – in the form of the tsunami that hits Thailand at Christmastime in 2004 – becomes an annihilator of families. The wave announces its rapid encroachment with a rumble. It drags Maria under and the screen goes black and quiet. Then suddenly nature’s sonic boom, below the surface, commands its own sound system.
The vacationing British family members who are the main focus of this natural disaster – they’re based on a real-life Spanish family of survivors – are businessman Henry (Ewan McGregor), his physician wife Maria (Naomi Watts) and three young sons, the oldest of whom is Lucas (Tom Holland).
After the visually chilling cataclysm which tosses Maria underwater as though she were a rag doll, the family becomes separated. Mom soon finds Lucas and, we later learn, Dad has rounded up the two younger ones. The total reunion package proves to be the ultimate challenge. But with all subsequent activities propelled by the family-centric and caring Moon, there’s hope.
Lucas helps bring a child survivor to safety, leads critically injured Maria to a hospital, and becomes the protective parent of his mother. Henry embarks on finding Maria, surrenders his kids to surrogates so that he can continue searching for his wife and other son, and connects by phone with family in his native country. At hospital, Lucas helps other survivors reconnect with their own missing family members.
The movie admirably offers that helping others restore their family ties bodes well for those who desperately work towards the same goal.
Astrology Film Rating: ☽ (Moon)
