Just in time for the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival (where the movie is set to premiere), here’s a new trailer for Juan Antonio Bayona’s The Impossible, courtesy of The Playlist.
The film stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as a couple who faces the aftereffects of the 2004 tsunami.
The official synopsis is as follows:
Maria (Watts), Henry (McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But on the morning of December 26th, as the family relaxes around the pool after their Christmas festivities the night before, a terrifying roar rises up from the center of the earth. As Maria freezes in fear, a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds toward her. Based on a true story, The Impossible is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, The Impossible is a journey to the core of the human heart.
We certainly get glimpses into the “devastating and uplifting” facets of disaster in the trailer. It includes peaceful scenes of family bonding, the onset of the tsunami itself, and the quieter emotional moments that unravel as the separated family members struggle to survive and find each other.
Moreover, this trailer features gorgeous cinematography, fitting music, and terrific acting from Naomi Watts. Only McGregor’s stiff delivery detracts a little from the otherwise captivating trailer, but that’s no reason not to look forward to this movie.
Personally, I would prefer to see a film about local residents who had their lives torn apart by the tsunami. I think such a film would have much more emotional authenticity and impact than one about Western tourists, even if it is based on a true story. That said, this still looks like a moving film that might resonate well with the critics, especially during awards season.
The Impossible will open in limited release on December 21st.
Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think in the comments section!
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