A new film starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor tells the true story of a family caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The Impossible, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, focuses on Maria Belon, a Spanish tourist who survived the disaster with her husband and three sons.
The film recreates the tsunami using a mix of digital effects and real water surges. Bayona built miniatures and used a huge water tank in Spain to create authentic waves. Watts and Tom Holland, who plays her son Lucas, spent five weeks filming in the tank, with Watts admitting she found it challenging due to a near-drowning experience as a teenager.
Belon praised the film's accuracy, noting only one discrepancy: a yellow ball in real life was changed to red in the movie. She worked closely with Watts and the production team, visiting the set in Thailand to help ensure authenticity. Watts described Belon as articulate and courageous for sharing her story.
Bayona involved real survivors and volunteers in key decisions, calling their input a 'filter of truth'. He allowed the cast to improvise many scenes, with McGregor drawing on his own experience as a father to deepen his performance. Belon hopes the film conveys the universal dimension of survival, saying, 'Before the tsunami I was blind... now I see clearly.'
