Disney+ The Rescue (2021)

[JoeStemme]

Title: The Rescue

Tagline: Courage runs deep

Genre: Documentary, Drama

Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin

Cast: 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

Release: 2021-10-08

Runtime: 107

Plot: 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.

The world was captivated in 2018 when a youth soccer team got trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. This Documentary by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (who won an Oscar for FREE SOLO) follows the rescue mission that was a collaboration of the Thai Naval Seal Team, divers from the U.S. Military, Australia and China (who, for some reason are given particularly short shrift) and other freelance divers from around the world. But, it was a squad of British civilians led by Rick Stanton and John Volanthen who took center stage because of their unique qualifications in such situations.
Vasarhelyi and Chin were somewhat hamstrung in making the Doc for several reasons including the fact that Netflix has locked up the movie rights to the soccer team and their families and couldn't be interviewed (old news footage is used to get some of their side of the story; recreations are also used where no footage is available). The filmmakers made the decision to focus on the rescue personnel - it really should be called “The Rescuers”.
Even with these constraints - and the fact that everybody knows how it turns out - THE RESCUE manages to be genuinely suspenseful and moving.

 

[SamT]

Absolutely amazing. Make sure to watch this after you see Thirteen Lives (2022).

It's amazing that these middle aged looking "unfit" guys can do what fit young strong navy seals can't do.
Also amazing that these guys were close to abandon before starting and regret even thinking about it.

 

[JoeStemme]

Absolutely amazing. Make sure to watch this after you see Thirteen Lives (2022).

I recommend seeing it BEFORE Thirteen Lives.
Reality beats the Hollywood version.

 

[SamT]

It will spoil the story. Better to learn the "spoilers" in dramatic form first.

 

[JoeStemme]

It will spoil the story. Better to learn the "spoilers" in dramatic form first.

REALITY first. And, the Doc is better, too

 

[SamT]

I disagree. Dramatization always first. Reality second. It's the dramatization that whets your appetite to learn more.

 

[JoeStemme]

The Doc THE RESCUE came first. As did MAN ON WIRE, WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? and MARWENCOL.

All four Documentaries are superior to the Hollywood remakes.

In the words of 1968's THE TRIP: What's the matter? Reality isn't good enough for you?

 

[Philip Verdieck]

Me and the wife watched this last night. It is amazing and fantastic. I can't recommend it highly enough.