My wife and I watched the movie The Impossible last night. This film detailed the ordeal of a family on vacation at a resort in Thailand when the massive Asian tsunami struck on December 26, 2004. The number of casualties was astronomically high (somewhere in the order of a quarter of a million people across 14 countries). The movie was extremely well done, the acting of the entire cast was excellent, and even garnished an academy award nomination for Naomi Watts as the wife and mother in the family.
The film clearly depicted the cataclysmic event from the perspective of the woman and the couple’s oldest son. Then the harrowing aftermath was given a wider berth in terms of perspective by adding the perspectives of the husband/father and the two younger boys. This is a horror story of a different type, and one that captures all the best about human nature.
Basically, the “best” of humanity falls under two categories. First, there is the response of the residents of the country – which in this case is Thailand. Evidently true in the strictest terms, many of the Thai people searched for and helped the tourists and visitors despite having lost everything. Second, despite overwhelming trauma, many people maintained a sense of calm, rose to the occasion and showed courage in the face of unbelievably poor odds. The odds of all five members of this particular family to survive this type of catastrophe were probably so small as to be nonexistent. Yet, the family did (hence, the impossible). Beyond that, however, was the will to remain alive and to think clearly and be conscious of the needs of others. Not only on the part of the adults, but of the kids as well.
I often wondered how I would react if I was in this type of situation. I hope I never have to find out. Yet, in the face of terror, people often behave selflessly – at least these are the stories that we constantly hear about in the media whenever horrific tragedies occur. The hero stories are first and foremost, and told repeatedly. It happens often enough that it must be true – at least I’d like to think so.
The film clearly depicted the cataclysmic event from the perspective of the woman and the couple’s oldest son. Then the harrowing aftermath was given a wider berth in terms of perspective by adding the perspectives of the husband/father and the two younger boys. This is a horror story of a different type, and one that captures all the best about human nature.
Basically, the “best” of humanity falls under two categories. First, there is the response of the residents of the country – which in this case is Thailand. Evidently true in the strictest terms, many of the Thai people searched for and helped the tourists and visitors despite having lost everything. Second, despite overwhelming trauma, many people maintained a sense of calm, rose to the occasion and showed courage in the face of unbelievably poor odds. The odds of all five members of this particular family to survive this type of catastrophe were probably so small as to be nonexistent. Yet, the family did (hence, the impossible). Beyond that, however, was the will to remain alive and to think clearly and be conscious of the needs of others. Not only on the part of the adults, but of the kids as well.
I often wondered how I would react if I was in this type of situation. I hope I never have to find out. Yet, in the face of terror, people often behave selflessly – at least these are the stories that we constantly hear about in the media whenever horrific tragedies occur. The hero stories are first and foremost, and told repeatedly. It happens often enough that it must be true – at least I’d like to think so.
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