The criticism that the film focuses on a white family as opposed to locals shouldn't be an issue. What people forget, or perhaps don't even realise, is that beachgoers are mostly foreigners. Looking at the official Thai government statistics (and this film is set in Thailand, not Indonesia as another poster claims) we can see that the 5,000 death toll was equally split between Thais and foreigners. I am Thai, and I had no problem watching the film. Tragedy is tragedy regardless of skin color.
@David First, I assume you didn’t watch The Impossible. Because if you did, you would see why I said myself and the majority of Thais I know enjoyed the movie and was impressed with how they portrayed Thais and Thai society. Also, some countries didn’t need to make a movie about it because it was on TV, on the news, every night for weeks. Unless in the west.
Second, stop being so damn Woke for a minute and think about what you’re said. You’re criticizing my enjoyment of the movie, the movie itself and Hollywood for making an English language movie about the experiences of an English family during the tsunami. If Hollywood had made an English language movie about a Thai family’s experience during the tsunami, you would be right down here in a different comments section yelling Cultural Appropriation!!! Every country dealt with the tragedy in their own way, and the fact that Hollywood made a movie about it doesn’t in any way diminish anyone’s else experience of the tragedy.
I'm totally with you here, I am from Sri lanka and the 2004 tsunami devastated our island's coastal regions, I enjoyed the movie and also cried a few times watching the heart felt scenes as I imagined how so many people could have related to what this family was going through regardless of what they looked like, it was a collective human experience that was harrowing , sprinkled with heart felt moments of raw emotions between a mom, dad and their children
My initial reservations about the generally privileged, white, middle class Englishness-ness of the family were completely washed away (no pun intended) once the 'event' hits and the mother/son relationship plays out. The effects were realistic and harrowing and thanks to some of the best child performances I've seen in a good while, I found myself repeatedly trying to hold back the tears.
I think Dr Kermodes' strength as a critic is that he is as interested in what Cinema should be, as what it is. He seems to care about Film making more than "Movie" making and the focus of that should always be art not commerce. I agree with him - your way results in Tim Burtons' "Alice in wonderland 3D", his way results in "Lost in Translation". i Know what i'd rather see.
Once I knew all of them were alive I found it hard to care. The film tries to tease with the 'looking for each-other' scene outside the hospital, but the proximity of the father and his son did nothing for me. I knew they would eventually find each other, so it seemed crass to over look the other characters who were still in turmoil. Will the rich white family spot each other in a crowd? Why should I care, they are safe now and will soon be flying an empty chartered jet to a private hospital.
First of all, this movie is set on THAILAND, not INDONESIA. Second of all, this movie isn't about one suffering ethnicity, it's a tragedy that affects EVERYONE who was at the location of 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
The problem with the film is it was boring. There is no suspense as half way through we know whether they survived or not. Also there was almost no footage of the tsunami itself which imo is an oppurtunity missed in a big budget film. As for the complaints that its about wealthy westerners, well so what? Is it only sad when a Thai local dies and not a white person? Typical selth loathing from Westerners. All in all I found it boring and completely predictable.
The criticism that the film focuses on a white family as opposed to locals shouldn't be an issue. What people forget, or perhaps don't even realise, is that beachgoers are mostly foreigners. Looking at the official Thai government statistics (and this film is set in Thailand, not Indonesia as another poster claims) we can see that the 5,000 death toll was equally split between Thais and foreigners. I am Thai, and I had no problem watching the film. Tragedy is tragedy regardless of skin color.
@David Im from Thailand. More Westerners died than Thais because Thais dont hangout on the beach at 7:30 in the morning.
@David and The Impossible wasnt the only tsunami movie. Whats your point?
@David First, I assume you didn’t watch The Impossible. Because if you did, you would see why I said myself and the majority of Thais I know enjoyed the movie and was impressed with how they portrayed Thais and Thai society. Also, some countries didn’t need to make a movie about it because it was on TV, on the news, every night for weeks. Unless in the west.
Second, stop being so damn Woke for a minute and think about what you’re said. You’re criticizing my enjoyment of the movie, the movie itself and Hollywood for making an English language movie about the experiences of an English family during the tsunami. If Hollywood had made an English language movie about a Thai family’s experience during the tsunami, you would be right down here in a different comments section yelling Cultural Appropriation!!!
Every country dealt with the tragedy in their own way, and the fact that Hollywood made a movie about it doesn’t in any way diminish anyone’s else experience of the tragedy.
I'm totally with you here, I am from Sri lanka and the 2004 tsunami devastated our island's coastal regions, I enjoyed the movie and also cried a few times watching the heart felt scenes as I imagined how so many people could have related to what this family was going through regardless of what they looked like, it was a collective human experience that was harrowing , sprinkled with heart felt moments of raw emotions between a mom, dad and their children
Very well made film and a very emotional one at that.!. Great acting from cast especially younger actors. Nice review.
The film maybe A little too depressing, however the film’s well acted, well directed, well written & A stylish biopic. (79%) (4/5 stars) (positive)
My initial reservations about the generally privileged, white, middle class Englishness-ness of the family were completely washed away (no pun intended) once the 'event' hits and the mother/son relationship plays out.
The effects were realistic and harrowing and thanks to some of the best child performances I've seen in a good while, I found myself repeatedly trying to hold back the tears.
Considering this was a real family....
I think Dr Kermodes' strength as a critic is that he is as interested in what Cinema should be, as what it is. He seems to care about Film making more than "Movie" making and the focus of that should always be art not commerce. I agree with him - your way results in Tim Burtons' "Alice in wonderland 3D", his way results in "Lost in Translation". i Know what i'd rather see.
he reminds me of the man from the film UP
It shows the indigenous suffering as well.....
New glasses!
Great review Mr Kermode! I will be checking this one out!
Once I knew all of them were alive I found it hard to care. The film tries to tease with the 'looking for each-other' scene outside the hospital, but the proximity of the father and his son did nothing for me. I knew they would eventually find each other, so it seemed crass to over look the other characters who were still in turmoil. Will the rich white family spot each other in a crowd? Why should I care, they are safe now and will soon be flying an empty chartered jet to a private hospital.
"Predictable". Well done.
Aren't they australian and not british....
oh please! #theimpossible? A movie about a white family gettin trapped in Indonesia.Wat bout the indigenous pples suffering?
First of all, this movie is set on THAILAND, not INDONESIA.
Second of all, this movie isn't about one suffering ethnicity, it's a tragedy that affects EVERYONE who was at the location of 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
It's a story from a real family. What exactly is the issue? Identify politics is so freaking dumb.
The problem with the film is it was boring. There is no suspense as half way through we know whether they survived or not. Also there was almost no footage of the tsunami itself which imo is an oppurtunity missed in a big budget film. As for the complaints that its about wealthy westerners, well so what? Is it only sad when a Thai local dies and not a white person? Typical selth loathing from Westerners. All in all I found it boring and completely predictable.