Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in 'The Impossible'
Because in Thailand ? 'The Impossible' is based on the true story of a Spanish family that had the misfortune of live the tsunami that devastated the coasts of Southeast Asia in 2004 . It is one of the first films to address the tragic event that killed 230,000 people, with the exception of ' ** Beyond Life '** by Clint Eastwood . The hotel khao lak orchid , like many of this paradisiacal beach and diving town, was almost completely destroyed by the gigantic wave, catching many of its guests by surprise who were enjoying a sunny morning at the beach in late December. Our protagonists, in fiction Maria, Henry and their three children, They are separated by the impact of the sea. The tape narrates their efforts to meet again and find out if the other party has survived.
This is what the area looked like after the tsunami
khao lak was one of the most affected Thai localities by the 2004 tsunami, with waves that reached a maximum height of 11.6 meters, devastating the landscape and buildings and taking the lives of more than 4,000 people, according to official figures. A good example of the devastating effects that the gigantic wave had is the police boat that was moved 2 kilometers inland, and that has been left as it was in memory of the tragedy and its victims. The boat was guarding one of the best-known personalities and whose death had the most impact in Thailand, the grandson of the King of Thailand, Poom Jensen, who was on vacation with his family in the area.
Currently Khao Lak is practically recovered from the tsunami, and the reconstruction and reforestation work has returned the small town to its status as a coastal paradise. . Just 60 kilometers from the bustling and super developed phuket Khao Lak is a quiet and familiar alternative, with miles of almost deserted beaches. It is also the closest peninsular point to the Similán Islands, the best diving area in thailand , with an abundance of corals and varied marine fauna, including whale sharks.
Khao Lak today: Sarojin resort
'Lo Imposible' represents a new Spanish incursion into the international arena , with a budget of more than 30 million euros. Despite the fact that the film crew is almost entirely Spanish, the film is shot in English and the cast couldn't be more Hollywood: naomi watts, Ewan McGregor Y Geraldine Chaplin , among others. Our national representation is headed by Martha Etura (Cell 21, Eva or While You Sleep). The production is carried out by Apaches Entertainment and Telecinco Cinema, and after a long post-production process in Alicante, it will be presented these days at the San Sebastian Festival and will hit our screens on October 11.
Demolished walls and palm trees crossed on the ground transformed, as if by magic, the Orchid Hotel (already completely renovated) the day I arrived, faithfully reproducing the state in which it was left after the tsunami. Production technicians, make-up artists, and members of the sound team were running around, interspersing phrases in Spanish with instructions in English and Thai. And in the middle of all of them, Naomi Watts, her husband Liev Shreiber and Ewan McGregor, joking in the pool or feeding her children during breaks. Close, funny and not very showy, that's how the American stars seemed to me , who agreed without problem to take pictures with whoever asked them.
In the two days I was there, I was able to witness the filming of some key scenes in the hotel, such as the moment of the wave's impact. The rehearsal was already hair-raising, especially from the sound of what seemed like a million human screams that accompanied the wave. In post-production, pioneering image and sound techniques have been used that will make people talk and add spectacularity to the film . I was also lucky enough to share a dinner with Sergio Garcia , in which he ended up telling us scary stories from his childhood in Oviedo that leave the horror of The orphanage in a children's story. The film faithfully reproduces the main scenes in which the tragedy unfolded in the area, and spares no special effects. In Thailand we look forward to the premiere of this new success from the Bayona-García tandem that will make our cinema rub shoulders with the great international blockbusters. Until then, we'll have to content ourselves with the movie's imposing trailer.