I remember waking up and hearing the news about 2004's deadly tsunami in the Far East.  It seemed that for months raw video footage of that event surfaced as did harrowing accounts of survival.  I vividly remember an episode of Oprah in which Oprah staff member Nate Berkus shared a voicemail he left for his mother shortly after the disaster struck.  Nate was there vacationing with his partner Fernando, who was swept away by the waves and never found.  Hundreds, thousands of similar stories surfaced and all were terrifying.  Now, a new film called The Impossible recounts that tragic day and focuses on one family's attempt to survive.  Take a look at the trailer.  This looks unbelievable!

Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts star as Lucas and Maria Alvarez, who were vacationing in the Far East with their three sons with the Boxing Day tsunami thrashed coastlines, killing 240,000 people in 14 countries.  While that day spawned hundreds and thousands of stories of survival, the film primarily focuses on theirs.  It looks powerful, dramatic and moving and I cannot wait to see it.

While I was watching the trailer on YouTube, I decided to search for more video from that day.  And, naturally, I found some.  I have always said I am intrigued by natural disasters and Earth's fury and this just blows me away.  Take a look at this raw footage taken at a resort at the moment the tsunami waves start to barrel ashore.  And I will warn you . . . it's not for the faint of heart.  You will see some people climb to safety.  Others get swept away.

I found this video too and it's even more harrowing.  It's a compilation of footage compiled from a variety of sources.  And, again, don't watch if you can't handle it.  Remember, this tsunami claimed over 200,000 lives.  Outrunning its impact was truly a test for the fittest.  And it was a test many just could not pass.

The Impossible is currently playing in select cities and will hopefully hit local theatres soon.  If you don't want to wait, you can catch the film playing NOW at Baxter Avenue Theatres in Louisville.  For show times, CLICK HERE!

 

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