“We spent a year researching how to do it, but the result was spectacular.”
10 years have passed since the premiere of ‘The Impossible’, one of the great titles of the Spanish director, JA Bayona. Because of this, FOTOGRAMAS is preparing to rummage through the director’s memories, and to rescue some pearls buried in his memory of what was this mammoth shoot and its subsequent premiere.
Speaking exclusively with the magazine, JA Bayona responded to a question regarding the production of the film. Why use real water to recreate the huge wave? Why not use digital water (as productions of this caliber tend to do)? Beyond the aesthetic realism that it offers, the director confessed the reasons that led him to make that decision.
“The tsunami sequence was the most technically complicated,Bayonne affirmed.It was divided into two blocks. The arrival of the wave at the hotel and the flood that carried away the characters of Naomi Watts and Tom Holland.“
“I remember that we went to request a budget for the visual effects from a company in London. They asked us (just for making the digital water) 11 million pounds. We had 3 million dollars to do all the effects for the film. It was unfeasible,” the filmmaker continued to explain.
“We spoke with El ranchitowhich is Félix Bergés’ company in Madrid, and we decided to make the film with real water and not use digital. The truth is that it was a great decision. We spent a year researching how to do it, but the result was spectacular. Much better than if we had made it digital.“
The film is based on the true story of María Belón and her family, who went to Thailand for Christmas holidays in 2004, where they survived the brutal tsunami that devastated the coast where their hotel was located. ‘The Impossible’ recounts the survival of all the members of the family and the horror they experienced in those days.
If you couldn’t enjoy the experience of watching the movie on the big screen, you may still be able to. JA Bayona presents a unique screening of ‘The Impossible’ in Barcelona, in commemoration of its tenth anniversary. It will be today, March 4, at 9:00 p.m., at the Aribau Cinema. There, JA Bayona and María Belón will meet the public.
The film, which garnered countless nominations and awards (5 Goyas and Naomi Watts’ Oscar nomination, among others), has become one of the key pieces in the filmography of one of the great Spanish directors on the current scene.
Source: Fotogramas
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
