The Rescue

The Rescue

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.

  • Released: 2021-10-08
  • Runtime: 107 minutes
  • Genre: Documentaries, Drama, Thrillers
  • Stars: Jim Warny, Thanet Natisri, John Volanthen, Derek Anderson, Rick Stanton, Mikko Paasi, Richard Harris, Josh Morris, Mitch Torrel, Craig Challen, Ruengrit Changkwanyuen, Josh Bratchley, Jason Mallinson, Connor Roe, Fiona Harris, Ben Svasti Thomson, Chris Jewell, Felix Rosen, Saman Gunan, Vern Unsworth, Rob Harper, Bhak Loharjun, Surathin Chaichoomphu, Natnadai Bradwell, Singhanat Losuya, Waleeporn Gunan, Bobby Trarewaxe, Somsak Kanakam, Tiger Hirankrit, Woranan Ratrawiphukkun, Anan Surawan, Ben Reymenants, Nat Lawson, Apakorn Youkongkaew, Weerasak Kowsurat, Anupong Paochinda, Bancha Duriyapunt, Siriporn Bangnoen
  • Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
 Comments
  • blueboot - 11 January 2023
    Captured, the gravity of kids in peril
    In the daunting challenge to save the lives of 12 children and their football coach trapped somewhere inside a deep 10 kilometre long cave rapidly filling with rainwater - by combining excellent narration, talking heads, actual news footage, expert knowhow and military personnel contributions - the real life mind-boggling complications, practical difficulties and ever changing environmental conditions are shown and explained most clearly by this compelling film. The scale of the formidable potential rescue is jaw dropping. Saturation coverage kept the waiting world appraised. The first task? Locate the missing children, and discover if any are alive.

    At breakneck speed many caving experts of different nationalities came together in Chile; each beset with unique insurmountable hurdles to overcome. Not only was time against them, the rescuers had language and communication issues, differing levels of skills, and diving equipment that often was incompatible or unsuited for the task.

    The film's camera crew picked up every nuance: children's mothers, the preparation of waiting paramedics and ambulance staff. Journalists hovered. Police were the there, and fire crews to pump away the water gushing into the cave network. Engineers laid in huge pipes. In fact thousands of people were packed tightly into a small area... in dark wet cold conditions for many days. The burning question on everyone's mind, could a rescue be mounted? Would the children be found let alone be rescued? Or was this improbable mission doomed before it began?

    The producers, directors (Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi), editor (Bob Eisenhardt) and principle narrators, mainly cavers, construct the story superbly keeping it tight, aided by footage from multiple mobile phones. All perfectly compiled leaving viewers in no doubt what was needed for this rescue to succeed - a miracle. Atrocious weather resulted in faster, serious flooding deep underground isolating the children somewhere at the far end of the complex cave network, while their air runs out. The frantic and chaotic situation above impelled the cavers plus the Thai military Seals to consider many plausible ideas. Could another shaft be dug in time; would that hasten the flooding? Was it conceivably possible for young children (who had walked into the famous cave and never dived before) to swim kilometres in scuba gear carrying heavy air tanks navigating themselves through tiny holes in the rocks in cold water and in complete darkness? The potential swim would take each child hours to reach safety. Their air supply would probably run out. If they panicked it would spell disaster. The documentary shows the challenges faced were truly formidable.

    Even the experts were unsure and undecided. The military seals bravely attempted a rescue but soon found that neither their equipment nor specialised training was suited. So if you don't know of this true story or what happened - you must watch! This award-winning film is about ingenuity, the unquenchable human urge to save lives, and many heroes - with each person entering the cave system putting their own lives in great danger - and this is not to be missed. Rating: easily 10/10.
  • NormalGuyReviews - 20 August 2022
    My favorite Nat Geo documentary yet
    This really is a fantastic documentary with the whole in-depth story of what we all saw on the news. I've probably watched this documentary three times because it really does amaze me what happened and the outcome. It's an emotional story with real life heroes that I highly recommend watching.