Based on a true story, a family of five (with three young boys) were vacationing in Thailand over Christmas in 2004 when the deadliest Tsunami in history hit the coast.
I never expected how hard this film would hit me, emotionally.
Against my better judgment, I had to watch this in two parts because it was getting late. On the first night, I had about an hour left. The Tsunami had hit and miraculously all five members of the family are safe but they are split up. After turning it off the first night, I was a little shaken up by how this family was ripped apart but I felt hopeful that they would find a way back to each other.
Then, without thinking, I opened my Photos app on my phone and saw the last photo I took — one of my two boys (ages 4 and 2), holding hands going down a slide at the park.
I immediately burst into tears. 😭
Not just silently weeping, I’m talking full on grown-ass-man sobbing. I was helpless. I was so overcome with emotion that I literally couldn’t keep it together. Thankfully (or unfortunately), my wife and kids were already in bed so it was just me sobbing on the couch using my dog for comfort.
On the second night, I knew going into it that I’d better prepare for more waterworks. Sure enough, once the brothers were reunited, I completely lost it. I kept picturing both of my boys and it just hit me like a ton of bricks.
While, I probably won’t plan to rewatch this for several years due to the emotional tax on me, I will certainly watch it again eventually.
What an incredible story.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (out of 5)
