In a Thai Cave, Divers Risk Their Lives to Save Others

"The Rescue"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

Documentary filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin know how to thrill moviegoers with the stunning stories that they tell.  With their 2015 film “Meru” and their 2018 film “Free Solo,” we were amazed at the majestic accomplishments that the adventurers dared themselves to pursue, showing the dangers through which they willing to go to achieve their dreams.

Vasarhelyi and Chin now bring audiences on a journey that shows bravery in a different way, where it has to be used to save people.  That’s what this pair of filmmakers has done for their latest documentary, “The Rescue,” a film that shows how much is possible when enough people work together to achieve something that could be seen as impossible.

In June and July of 2018, a Thai junior association soccer team and their assistant coach ventured into the Tham Luang Nang Non cave and became trapped when a heavy rainfall flooded their way back.  Soon after, a massive rescue mission took place to bring them to safety.

Through news footage and re-enactments, we’re provided with a view of the people who were called in, the equipment that was required, and other necessary resources, showing us all of the factors that had to come together to prepare and and carry out this mission.  The film takes a day-by-day approach to the story as we see the rescue site evolve with the time constraints and weather conditions, allowing audiences to feel what it must have been like to be conscious of the minutes ticking by as the team scrambled to put all of the components of the plan into place.

With extensive interviews, we hear the stories of many individuals who were involved with the rescue, offering numerous viewpoints of what it was like to be a part of one of the boldest undertakings in recent memory.  We hear the viewpoints from the Thai Navy, the families of the divers, and several others, giving us a detailed account of who these heroes are and what encouraged them to join in helping extract the team from the cave.

However, some of the most fascinating interviews are those with the recreational divers who helped out.  Through their talks, we realize what draws them to this hobby and are given a look into the mindset of those who find solace of exploring the quiet depths of the water.  It’s an instance where you can’t believe that someone would want to do this, but at the same time, you also can’t help but understand why they do what they do, despite how crazy it might seem to us.

As we watch this true story unfold, Vasarhelyi and Chin depict an uplifting display of what it means when people join together to overcome a significant challenge such as this.  We see how servicemen, servicewomen, doctors, and volunteers from around the world pulled together to formulate a plan and see it through, no matter how troubling the odds of accomplishment seemed.

Even though you know the outcome of this event, that doesn’t make the movie any less suspenseful.  All of the tension comes from the hazards through which we see the team put themselves, such as the claustrophobic spaces and rising water, and we’re also absorbed in seeing what methods they come up with to save those who are trapped.

“The Rescue” is a testament to the resilience of what people can achieve when faced with uncertainty and is a prime example of how, when it comes to saving others, there will always be someone to take the plunge.

Grade: A