The Impossible (2012) Lo imposible (original title)

Director:

Juan Antonio Bayona

Writers:

Sergio G. Sánchez (screenplay)
María Belón (story)

Release Date:

4 January 2013 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Thriller

Tagline:

Nothing is more powerful than the human spirit.

Plot:

The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Plot Keywords:

Thailand | Tsunami | Christmas | Beach Resort | Resort

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 23 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Naomi Watts	...	Maria
Ewan McGregor	...	Henry
Tom Holland	...	Lucas
Samuel Joslin	...	Thomas
Oaklee Pendergast	...	Simon
Marta Etura	...	Simone
Sönke Möhring	...	Karl
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Old Woman
Ploy Jindachote	...	Caregiver
Jomjaoi Sae-Limh	...	Red Cross Nurse
Johan Sundberg	...	Daniel
Jan Roland Sundberg	...	Daniel's Father
La-Orng Thongruang	...	Old Thai Man
Tor Klathaley	...	Young Thai Man
Douglas Johansson	...	Mr. Benstrom
Emilio Riccardi	...	Morten Benstrom
Vorarat Jutakeo	...	Doctor in Stockroom
Karun Konsaman	...	Young Nurse in Stockroom
Nicola Harrison	...	Woman in charge of Simon and Thomas
John Albasiny	...	Oliver Tudpole
Gitte Witt	...	Norwegian Patient
Bruce Blain	...	American Tourist
Celicia Arnold	...	American Tourist's Wife
Peter Tuinstra	...	American Tourist on Orchid Roof
Esther Davis	...	Volunteer in Children's Tent
Dominic Power	...	Tourist Near the Orchid
Sarinrat Thomas	...	Operating Nurse
Oak Keerati	...	Orchid Male Employee
Wipawee Charoenpura	...	Woman in Children's Minibus
Laura Power	...	Young Nurse in Airplane
Kowit Wattanakul	...	Henry's Pick-up Driver
Zoe Popham	...	Tourist in Henry's Pick-up
Danai Thiengdham	...	Tourist in Henry's Pick-up
Ronnie Eide	...	Tourist in Henry's Pick-up
Bonnie Jo Hutchinson	...	Tourist at Bus Station
Jean-Loup Pilblad	...	Tourist at Bus Station
Frank Gun	...	Tourist at Bus Station
Giovani Agresti	...	Tourist Looking for Francesca
Georgina L. Baert	...	Person Looking for Relatives
David Bruce	...	Person Looking for Relatives
Natalie Lorence	...	Person Looking for Relatives
Sverre Golten	...	Person Looking for Relatives
Clare Louise Plunkett	...	Person Looking for Relatives
Raphaël Dewaerseghers	...	Naked Man
Pisamai Pakdeevijit	...	Thai Family in Stockroom
Aratchporn Satead	...	Thai Family in Stockroom
Jakapong Srichaem	...	Thai Family in Stockroom
Simon Blyberg	...	Ferdinand
Christopher Alan Byrd	...	Dieter
Namfon Pakdee	...	Orchid Female Employee
Georgina Winters	...	Patient in Takua Pa Hospital
Dina Kiseleva	...	Patient in Takua Pa Hospital
Tan Demir	...	Patient in Takua Pa Hospital
Krittanai Youngtrakull	...	Emergency Nurse
Takashi Hasegawa	...	Japanese Tourist
Kristen Mandel	...	Redheaded Woman
Sam Holland	...	Kid in the Tent
Harry Holland	...	Kid in the Tent
Mara García García	...	Kid in the Car
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Russell Geoffrey Banks	...	Newly wed (uncredited)
Vanesa de la Haza	...	(uncredited)
Philippe Durand	...	Shanque (uncredited)
David Firestar	...	Hospital Volunteer (uncredited)
Byron Gibson	...	Staring man at airport (uncredited)
Olivia Jackson	...	Woman by the pool (uncredited)
Marco Naddei	...	Young Bus Stop Survivor (uncredited)
Desmond O'Neill	...	Lost Man at Hospital (uncredited)
Teo Quintavalle	...	Rescue Volunteer (uncredited)

Directed by
Juan Antonio Bayona

Writing credits
Sergio G. Sánchez		(screenplay)
María Belón		(story)

Produced by
Belén Atienza	....	producer
Álvaro Augustín	....	producer
Ghislain Barrois	....	producer
Sandra Hermida	....	executive producer
Sandra Hermida	....	line producer
Enrique López Lavigne	....	producer
Jaime Ortiz de Artiñano	....	delegate producer
Javier Ugarte	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Fernando Velázquez

Cinematography by
Óscar Faura

Film Editing by
Elena Ruiz
Bernat Vilaplana		(supervising editor)

Casting by
Shaheen Baig
Raweeporn 'Non' Srimonju

Production Design by
Eugenio Caballero

Art Direction by
Dídac Bono
Lek Chaiyan Chunsuttiwat
Marina Pozanco		(segment)

Set Decoration by
Pilar Revuelta

Costume Design by
Anna Bingemann
Sparka Lee Hall
Maria Reyes

Makeup Department
Itziar Arrieta	....	hairdresser (as Itzíar Arrieta)
Tamar Aviv	....	special makeup effects artist: DDT SFX Crew
Alessandro Bertolazzi	....	hair designer
Alessandro Bertolazzi	....	makeup designer
Sophia Burnage	....	assistant hairdresser
Kevin Carter	....	special effects contact lenses
Rick Findlater	....	hair stylist: Naomi Watts
Giorgio Gregorini	....	hair stylist: Naomi Watts
Hilary Haines	....	hairdresser
Sophia Knight	....	assistant hairdresser
Sarah Love	....	key hair stylist
David Martí	....	special makeup effects artist
Montse Ribé	....	special makeup effects artist
Marta Roggero	....	key makeup artist
Floris Schuller	....	prosthetic effects: DDT crew
Vasit Suchitta	....	special makeup effects artist
Aleix Torrecillas	....	special makeup effects artist: DDT SFX
Chiara Ugolini	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Laia Coll	....	production manager: Thailand
Emilio Giménez	....	production manager: Alicante
Goyo Gámez	....	production manager
Jaume Martí	....	post-production supervisor
Nerea Orce	....	assistant unit manager
Gloria Rúa	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Albert Auladell	....	third assistant director
Richard Diment	....	first assistant director: second unit, Thailand
Daniela Forn	....	first assistant director
Óscar Manero	....	second assistant director: second unit, Thailand
Eugenio Mira	....	second unit director
Olga Pujalte	....	second assistant director
Ferran Rial	....	first assistant director: second unit, Spain
Marc Rial	....	third assistant director
Esther Rojas	....	third assistant director: second unit
Anna Rua	....	second assistant director
Mónica Sánchez	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Carmen Agulló	....	props buyer
Pablo Buratti	....	storyboard artist
Somm Suthinee Chantakarn	....	art department coordinator: Thailand
Vanesa de la Haza	....	set dresser
Joseph Diaz	....	concept artist
Javier López Antía	....	props
Adolfo Martín Crespo	....	water supervisor
Isaac Maté	....	painter
Laura Maynadé	....	concept artist
Sorayuk Mookleemas	....	leadman
Angela Nahum	....	assistant decorator
Aitana Ozaeta	....	painter
Pipat Sripradoo	....	props assistant
Rut Villamagna	....	prop finisher (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jorge Adrados	....	sound mixer: second unit
Marc Bech	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Marc Bech	....	sound effects editor
Nicolas Becker	....	foley artist
Aymeric Devoldère	....	foley editor
Laura Díez	....	dialogue editor
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Cyril Holtz	....	sound recordist
James Hyde	....	adr recordist
Boi Martinez	....	assistant sound editor
Shaun Mills	....	boom operator
Marc Orts	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thiago Sachs	....	sound editor
Ric Schnupp	....	adr recordist
Andy Stallabrass	....	adr mixer
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Oriol Tarragó	....	sound designer
Oriol Tarragó	....	supervising sound editor
Rodrigo Villanueva	....	adr recordist
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Mariano Alvarado	....	special effects welder
Wesley Barnard	....	special effects technician
Xavi Bastida	....	special effects
Jonathan Bickerdike	....	special effects technician
Maxime Boquier	....	special effects makeup: DDT SFX Crew
Marcin Busko	....	special effects technician
Eloy Cervera	....	special effects technician
Anthony S. Ciccarelli	....	special effects technician
Pau Costa	....	special effects supervisor
Teresa Costa	....	special effects buyer
Joaquín Dorado	....	special effects technician
Paula Eden	....	special makeup effects artist: DDT
Javier Jal	....	special effects technician
Carlos Laguna	....	special effects technician
Sebastian Lochmann	....	sculptor
Esther Martinez	....	special effects welder
José M. Meneses	....	special effects technician: DDT
Javier H. Moneo	....	second unit supervisor
Jordi Morera	....	special effects makeup: DDT SFX Crew
Raquel Munuera	....	special effects makeup: DDT SFX Crew
Stephen Murphy	....	prosthetics sculptor
Julio Navarro	....	special effects technician
Pablo Perona Navarro	....	special effects makeup: DDT SFX Crew
Yago Partal	....	conceptual designer: DDT
Marcos Sagasta	....	special effects technician: DDT sfx
Brett Tierney	....	special effects electrician
Esther Velasco	....	special effects welder

Visual Effects by
Carlos Adarraga	....	digital compositor
Jorge Medina Alix	....	fluid fx artist
Sonsoles Aranguren	....	digital compositor
Eloi Bartolomé	....	digital compositor: Fassman
Félix Bergés	....	visual effects supervisor
Katharina Boehm	....	break-away model maker
Lluís Castells	....	visual effects producer: Fassman
Miguel Castrillo	....	visual effects
Berta Coderch	....	visual effects coordinator: Fassman
Aníbal del Busto	....	digital compositor
Alicia del Rio	....	digital conform artist
Gaston Emery	....	visual effects artist
David Esteve	....	digital compositor
Javier García	....	visual effects supervisor: Fassman
Álvaro Gasco	....	visual effects artist: Fassman
Pablo Hernández-Meléndez	....	visual effects artist
Antonio Lado	....	cgi supervisor
Ezequiel Larrú	....	digital compositor
Alberto Luceño	....	cgi artist
Daniel López-Izquierdo	....	digital compositor: Fassman
Helen Marti Donoghue	....	visual effects producer
Angel Pedro Martinez	....	break-away models coordinator
Guillermo Martínez Benavente	....	visual effects artist
Emiliano Nanfaro	....	visual effects
Connie Oettl	....	senior model maker
Sergio Pinto	....	visual effects artist
Ziad Ragheb	....	senior model maker
Ramón Ramos	....	visual effects artist
Thorsten Rienth	....	visual effects artist
Javier Roca	....	digital compositor
Yolanda Rubio	....	digital compositor
Jorge Oliva Ruiz	....	digital compositor
Rubén Sanz	....	visual effects technical director
Gabriel Sitjas	....	digital compositor: Fassman
Rafa Solorzano	....	visual effects
Carlos Trijueque	....	digital compositor
Pepe Valencia	....	previsualisation supervisor
Carolina Pinillos Visscher	....	visual effects producer
Fernando Vizoso	....	technical director

Stunts
Guiomar Alonso	....	stunt coordinator
Wesley Barnard	....	stunt performer
Mireya Bolado	....	stunt double
Ignacio Carreño	....	stunt coordinator
James Cox	....	stunt double: Ewan McGregor
Rodrigo Garcia	....	stunt double
Diego Herberg	....	stunt performer
Olivia Jackson	....	stunt performer
Damian Mavis	....	stunt double: Ewan McGregor
Belinda McGinley	....	stunt double
Eduardo Moratilla	....	assistant stunt coordinator: underwater work
Giedrius Nagys	....	stunt rigger
Ricardo Rocca	....	stunt diver
Cuco Usín	....	stunt performer
Miguel Villalba	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Igor Andrés	....	video assist
Miquel Auguet	....	central film loader
Sergi Bartrolí	....	director of photography: second unit
Francesc Carreras	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Salva Castellarnau	....	grip
Tato Climent	....	assistant camera
Beatriz Delgado	....	additional second assistant camera
Jordan Dieselberg	....	video assist
Zuriñe Etxebarría	....	additional second assistant camera
Llúcia Faraig	....	still photographer
Manel Fernández	....	rigging gaffer
José Luis González Jr.	....	grip
Javier González Leonardo	....	key grip
Álex González	....	second assistant additional camera (as Alex González)
Celine Gravez	....	second assistant camera
Javier Guerrero	....	best boy electrician
José Haro	....	photographer: specials
José Haro	....	still photographer
José Manuel Herrero	....	underwater camera operator
Peru Herrero	....	additional electrician
Guillem Huertas	....	first assistant camera
Sergi Iracheta	....	focus puller: fx unit
Fran Lorite	....	underwater camera assistant
José Ángel Manrique	....	grip
Alvaro Morales	....	grip
Diego Moyano	....	electrician
Raúl Peña	....	electrician
Alejandro Pla	....	underwater camera operator: segments
José Luis Rodríguez	....	gaffer
José Tamayo Fernández	....	electrician

Animation Department
Luis Gerardo Castellanos	....	fx animator

Casting Department
Jodi Angstreich	....	casting: New York
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Jeanette Klintberg	....	casting: Sweden
Howard Meltzer	....	casting: Los Angeles
Peter Mossman	....	casting assistant
Troy Daniel Smith	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Aguilà	....	costume supervisor: added scenes and retakes
Dietke Brandt	....	key costumer: Thailand
Sara Cabrera	....	breakdown assistant: Spain
Irantzu Campos	....	costume assistant: Spain
Anna Izquierdo	....	seamstress: second unit, Spain
Nuria Peña	....	key costume breakdown artist: Spain
Preeyanan 'Lin' Suwannathda	....	assistant costume designer
Lupt Utama	....	costume supervisor: Thailand

Editorial Department
Quique Cañadas	....	digital intermediate colorist
Ana Charte	....	first assistant editor
Fernando Hervás	....	editorial trainee
Nacho Melero	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Nacho Melero	....	film output
Jorge Ortiz Yus	....	telecine colorist
Mathieu Reid	....	color timer
Laura Sanchez	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Enric Sebastià	....	finishing editor

Music Department
John Barrett	....	technical score engineer
Marc Blanes Matas	....	score engineer
Marc Blanes Matas	....	score mixer
Jessica Dannheisser	....	orchestrator
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music producer
Paul Pritchard	....	score pro tools recordist
Pablo Uroz	....	score engineer assistant
Pablo Uroz	....	score mix assistant
Johannes Vogel	....	musician

Transportation Department
Teresa Costa	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Juan Antonio Agulló	....	script supervisor second unit
Alexis Arderius	....	production staff
Cameron Arguelles	....	quality control
Celia Bannerman	....	acting coach: children
Susana Biera	....	production assistant
Charles Birns	....	production coordinator: new york
Glòria Blanes	....	script supervisor
Jon Mikel Caballero	....	making-of director
Jo Cameron Brown	....	dialogue coach
Javier Lorenzo Carneros	....	set production assistant: Spain
Núria Casanueva	....	script supervisor (as Nuria Casanueva)
Raúl Díaz	....	production coordinator
Jan Garcia	....	production accountant
Magda Gargallo	....	assistant location manager
Margarita Huguet	....	location manager
Veronica Jones	....	tutor
Laura Jou	....	child coach
Natalie Lorence	....	body double for Naomi Watts
Brad Dirk Martin	....	boat captain
Sergio Martinez	....	development
Víctor Martí	....	post production coordinator
Soledad Martínez	....	production coordinator
Ines Mas	....	production secretary
Damian Mavis	....	body double: Ewan McGregor
Melvin Mellblom	....	stand-in for Samuel Joslin
Teresa Morales de Alava	....	marketing
Noemi Oliete	....	art cashier
Mikki Pallas	....	personal assistant
Benjamin Perkins	....	acting coach
Marc Pey	....	set production assistant
Shima Razavi	....	assistant: Mr. McGregor
Michael Schaefer	....	production executive
Mercedes Selgas	....	production accountant
Pete Smithsuth	....	script supervisor: second unit
Raúl Soriano	....	making-of assistant
Jorge Tuca	....	head of development

Thanks
Xavier Collin	....	thanks
Desirée de Fez	....	the director wishes to thank
Guillermo del Toro	....	special thanks
Agustí Villaronga	....	the director wishes to thank

Production Companies

• Apaches Entertainment
• Telecinco Cinema
• Mediaset España
• Canal+ España
• Generalitat Valenciana
• Institut Valencia de Cinematografia (IVAC)
• Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA)
• La Trini

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2012) (Spain) (theatrical) (dubbed) (subtitled)
• Alfa Films (2013) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Belga Films (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2013) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Presidio (2013) (Japan) (theatrical)
• SND (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2013) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Summit Entertainment (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2011) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Belga Home Vidéo (2013) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Belga Home Vidéo (2013) (Belgium) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Belga Home Vidéo (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Belga Home Vidéo (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• CatchPlay (2011) (Taiwan) (all media)
• IDC (2011) (Mexico) (all media) (all Latin America)
• IDC (2011) (Peru) (all media) (all Latin America)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Lotte Entertainment (2011) (Korea) (all media)
• Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2011) (Denmark) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2011) (Norway) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2011) (Finland) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2011) (Iceland) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2011) (Sweden) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2013) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2011) (Spain) (all media)
• Zon Audiovisuais (2013) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Efe-X
• El Ranchito (visual effects)
• Fassman VFX

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• De Lane Lea  ADR recording
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• IMM Sound  sound post-production
• La Lata Rentals & Services  Avid rentals
• Pentmark  product placement
• Quartet Records  soundtrack
• Southern Sun  grip and lighting equipment
• VS Service Ltd.  grip and lighting equipment
• VS Service Ltd.  star trailers

Also Known As:

"Lo imposible" - Spain (original title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images and brief nudity

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

English | Thai | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Datasat

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #47446) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Denmark:15 | Singapore:PG13 | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Brazil:12 | India:U/A | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIB | Argentina:13 | Japan:G

Filming Locations:

Alicante, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Company:

Apaches Entertainment

Trivia:

Many of the extras are actual survivors of the tsunami.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Daniel meets with his father, he says in Swedish - "vad tung du är Johan (how heavy you are, Johan)" instead of the character's name Daniel. This is because the real name of the character Daniel, is Johan, and it's his real father Jan.

Quotes:

Henry:But you know, you know, the most scary bit for me?
Thomas:When the water hit?
Henry:No. After that, when I came up, I was on my own. That was the scariest part. And when I saw the two of you clinging to the tree, I didn't feel so scared anymore. I knew I wasn't on my own. You see?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 85th Oscars (2013) (TV)

Soundtrack:

KAMALANI

Watts and Holland own it...One of the Best Pictures of the Year!

A film that captures real life the way J.A. Bayona captures it in his newest film The Impossible is a rare occurrence in filmmaking. Not only does he pay respect to the countless victims that were lost in the devastating tragedy, he makes artistic choices and liberties only the most seasoned directors can take. Starring Academy Award Nominee Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, the film tells the TRUE story about a family vacationing in Thailand when one of the worst natural disasters of our time separates them.

In the opening credits of the film, Bayona tells the audience that the story is true, but what may bother viewers and critics is how coincidental and inflated the story can seem. If it weren't in fact true, the film would fail within the first few moments. It's the notion that this did occur that demonstrates and heightens the execution of Bayona and writer Sergio G. Sanchez so brilliantly. The Impossible is the most emotional and devastating picture seen since Paul Greengrass' United 93 (2006). In the first several minutes, I was already in tears. Letting up only for short breaths, I feel like I didn't stop crying the entire time. I was invested, full body and soul, riding among the victims in a frightening state of mind. I could only imagine myself there, terrifyingly so and with appreciation now that I wasn't. The brave and committed performance by Naomi Watts is the miracle of the film and possibly the entire year. Watts falls into the role of "Maria" with perfect precision and accuracy. As a person who's only been a father for a year-and-a-half, Watts puts me right in the moment of unimaginable fear and pain. An Oscar-caliber turn as I've ever witnessed. The entire first half of the film is shared with Tom Holland, a child actor that can only be described as well beyond his years. Holland is motivated and equally as afflicting as Watts. A performance like his can only lead to more roles for him in the future. Ewan McGregor, who unbeknownst to me as gone this long without receiving any type of Oscar attention is pure magic. He shows an effortless approach as Henry, a father desperate to find his family. If there's one poor criticism about the film it's the first half of the film, where Holland and Watts dominate, is so gut-wrenching and brilliant that when McGregor and his story enter the screen, it unfortunately just pales by comparison. McGregor isn't given the most of character development to chew through but it's still an admirable work.

Cinematographer Oscar Faura's orange and yellow camera work demands the utmost attention from the viewer, gaining a near first-person view of what could have been. It's a technical achievement of the highest levels. Fernando Velasquez's somber score will only build the tears even more as your catapulted through this reenactment of terror. J.A. Bayona's direction is simplistic but delivered with reverence. A fine directorial turn.

This is a film that must be experienced by all. As you lay in your cozy beds tonight, take your loved ones for granted as they walk by you, and breath the air you so blindly feel entitled to, think about if at one moment, one single moment, from now, it was all gone. The Impossible dared me to be a better human being, a notion not many films will or attempt to convey. I'll try to listen.

It's one of the best pictures of the year!

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