Good, but not always easy to watch

Rating: 8/10 (10 January 2013)

A couple and their three young sons are on holiday on the Thai coast when the 2004 tsunami hits. Although they survive, they are separated, and the mother is badly injured.
This film is based on the true survival story of a Spanish family. It starts with a sequence which puts you right with the mother and oldest son, swept along in the wave itself (truly terrifying, and brilliantly realised), and then switches back and forth.
Much of this film is pretty harrowing stuff. I was aware of frequent sniffling in the cinema, because there is some solidly emotional stuff on offer here. Standout is Tom Holland (then 14 but playing younger) as oldest son Lucas, but all the kids give great naturalistic performances and make me wonder why the Harry Potter kids weren't better. Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor as Mum and Dad also have some very moving moments.
I can't say that this is an enjoyable film - it is more an experience, and a worthwhile one - but it is well worth watching, and a terrific directing job by Juan Antonio Bayona.