Canada: Friday, January 24, 2020
CMC Pictures
for disaster-related bloody/disturbing images
http://cmc-pictures.com/the-rescue/
A serious accident occurs on an offshore drilling platform, which may sink at any time. All members of the Transportation Emergency Response Team head to the location the moment they hear the alarm. With the time counting down, captain Gao Qian (Peng Yuxi) leads the helicopters flying into the explosion and fiercely burning fire, targeting the platform. Together with his team member and comrade, Zhao Cheng (Wang Yanlin), Gao Qian boards the platform in the most dangerous way with only one goal - to save the survivors.
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Public Reviews - 1 Reviews
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Gregory M. - Rated it 3 out of 5
"The Rescue" In the summer of 2018, a short outing after soccer practice becomes a two-week saga of survival and a story that soon captured the world’s attention. Monsoon rains has trapped twelve boys and their coach in a labyrinthian cave in Northern Thailand, and within days thousands of people have descended on the area to try to help. Are the boys even still alive? Anticipation and anguish hung in the air until they're found, trapped in a pitch-black chamber two kilometers deep into the cave. The next question, immediate, obvious, and confounding, is how to get them out. "The Rescue" chronicles the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018; the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. Using a wealth of never-before-seen material and exclusive interviews to piece together the high stakes mission, highlighting the efforts of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs and US Special Forces and details the expert cave divers audacious venture to dive the boys to safety. The documentary keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as they bring alive one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times, shining a light on the high-risk world of cave diving, the astounding courage and compassion of the rescuers, and the shared humanity of the international community. In the tradition of "Free Solo" and "Meru" the film documents a profoundly daring physical feat, laying bare the details of the seemingly impossible rescue. Normally when you’re diving, if something goes wrong, you can work toward the surface. In cave diving if something goes wrong you can’t surface. So your main point of safety is no longer there. And the differences between open water and cave diving are profound. In open water you always have a buddy. In cave diving if one person gets in trouble and another person is with them, they’re both more likely to die. The film attempts to examine questions that transcend their subject matter. "Meru" is about climbing, but really, it’s about friendship and mentorship. "Free Solo" is about free soloing a mountain, but really, it’s about making intentional decisions about what we want to achieve in life and the sacrifices we make. "The Rescue" is about an impossible rescue, but really, it’s about moral responsibility. When we've the skill set to rescue someone, do we bear the burden to do so even if we put ourselves at risk? It’s also a story about the common humanity that brings us together rather than what divides us. All these stories are about overcoming insurmountable odds. They feature unexpected heroes. And they invite the audience into specific worlds in a deep and authentic way. In "The Rescue", that’s the world of cave diving. Cave diving is very dangerous and very difficult. So why do the cave divers do it? What’s their motivation, experience, inspiration. It's vital that every last detail be right. The films is defined by that level of exactitude. The story of the Thai children trapped in the cave captivated the hearts and minds of the world in 2018. It's an against-all-odds story that gave you hope. It brings out the best in people who united from many different nations to help these kids. It has all the ingredients of a film you shouldn’t or can’t make. Everything’s pitch black in the cave. It’s underwater and muddy. The main event is over; you can’t shoot footage of it, and the archival sources are scattered all over the world. And, of course, the pandemic hit. We're dealing with different cultures, different languages, different time zones; and there are numerous constraints, but ultimately the story is still moving. The children, the cave divers, the Thai Navy SEALs, the US Special Forces and an entire community all showed us what great courage looks like. The story of the rescue is filled with numerous coincidences that can be seen as more than coincidence. "The Rescue" reminds us that amazing things are possible when people have integrity and a sense of responsibility for each other. Generosity is the beginning of everything. It brings out the best in people and the absolute morality that defines humans. And the story has only become more poignant because of the political discord in the world and the pandemic. It shows the strength of the human spirit and what humans are capable of when faced with what seem like insurmountable challenges. The story showcases that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, when a child is in danger, it touches everyone. It highlights the common denominator we all share; empathy and humanity. There are not enough positive Asian depictions in non-fiction. The pandemic brings up a lot of questions and unknowns for everyone, how you're going to move forward on basic things in life that weren’t even related to the film. It certainly becomes apparent there can be some additional restrictions around what are often already very difficult aspects to documentary filmmaking, whether it’s access to the subjects or getting enough time to get to know. Like any documentary, the film wants to tell a great accurate story, show multiple perspectives and develop the characters in a way that people can empathize with who they're and what motivates them. But we also believe films should be entertaining, exciting to watch, and moving. It’s always difficult to balance all of these objectives. When you take on a rescue, it’s more than just going and rescuing someone. You’re also taking on the accountability and safety of the rescuers that have come in from all over the world in a highly dynamic and dangerous situation. They've the unenviable job of managing the global media pressure too. They're being scrutinized by the entire world while being forced to make terrible choices with only horrible options. People are moved by seeing what great moral courage looks like and how people are able to achieve great things and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds through perseverance and determination. If only we all did what’s fundamentally decent and responsible; that’s interesting. It’s about the common thread we all share; about finding your place in the world. We see the divers evolve emotionally. We see their attention to detail and methodology. We cherish that, love it, want to honor and respect it. Truth is so much stronger than fiction. (2,5) Written by Gregory Mann
