This is a story that transfixed the world in 2018. It swept headlines for the 17 days that the children and their coach were stuck inside a cave, 2.5 miles from the entrance. The talented filmmakers shine light on the international community that came together to save them.
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi capture a story that touches upon the human spirit and the idea of genoristy in its purest form. The 107 minute documentary film keeps you at the edge of your seat as you watch skilled cave divers, the Thai Navy SEALS and hundreds of volunteers attempt the impossible.
The filmmakers were able to wonderfully capture the idea of what constitutes the human spirit in not only this film but as something that they have been able to exhibit in all their work, like Free Solo. As we look back at that summer in 2018, the world became distracted by this story, turning it into a media sensation. However, there wasn’t a lot of information shared with audiences on the details of how this rescue was made. That’s where the film beautifully fills in the gaps with its compelling storytelling. Whether it’s through GoPro footage from the caves, re-enactments of scenes, interviews with Thai personnel and the international community including the divers, the story of genoristy and a united effort was so powerful, that it leaves you inspired.
It was a demonstration of how different religions, nations, colors, creeds, backgrounds, languages came together and only in coming together were they able to achieve this incredible feat. That kernel was an intergral thread of the film as we were taken on the extremely nerve-wracking journey inside the caves.
Moral courage lays at the heart of this film, you’ll find yourself not only at the edge of your seat but (whether you knew how this story ended or not) whispering prayers to yourself in hopes that the mission is completed successfully. And that right there is the incredible force this film has. The cave divers had everything to lose yet they still decided to put their own lives at risk because their first instinct was that they couldn’t leave these boys. This heroic act should come as inspiring especially during the current climate of the pandemic. Where the world went through something together and have come together to fight the spread of a deadly virus. Similarly, this film touches upon those same human values we all share.
The film explores an interesting idea on how even if something is perceived as a dangerous activity, doesn’t mean you should approach it in a dangerous way, instead you can approach it with safety. That is the philosophy the mission tried to encapsulate as they dove into the caves in conditions that sometimes proved to be less than ideal.
The Rescue will pull on heart strings and open up your mind to engaging in acts of genoristy, selflessness and determination to do something much larger than yourself. It’s worth not just one watch to understand the mission and how it was conducted, but several to fully understand and grasp the sacrifice that was met with kindness and positivity from the boys waiting in the cave, entrusting the world to save them. In addition, to the hopefulness as the world and boys waited for their knights in wet suits to one day reunite them with their families…
Courage runs deep. Watch it unfold, availabe to stream on Disney+.
