The Impossible
2012 — 1h 54min — PG-13 — Drama, Biography, Disaster
Director
J.A. Bayona
Writers
Sergio G. Sánchez, María Belón
Actors
Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast
Synopsis
Based on a true story, The Impossible tells of a family caught in the 2004 tsunami. Amid terror and devastation, they endure separation and suffering but also encounter compassion, courage, and unexpected kindness. Both epic and intimate, it’s a powerful story of survival, love, and hope when everything familiar is swept away.
Redemptive Analogy
Jesus came to earth on a rescue mission. God’s perfect creation was broken, but He loved it too much to let it stay that way. Jesus came to reveal the loving heart of a Father who longs to save His lost children so that He can be with them. No matter what you are going through, God sees you right where you are. He came to rescue you. He is the God of hope, and He will hold on to you when everything around you is falling apart.
Conversation Starters
In your own words, ask a few of these questions during the natural conversation after the movie.
1.
Something Nice
A few times the phrase, “Just close your eyes and think of something nice” is used to comfort someone (Maria to Simon on the airplane, Lucas to Daniel in the tree, and the anesthesiologist to Maria before her operation). What phrase brings you the most comfort when you’re troubled?
Possible Response
If you’re comfortable with it, be transparent about difficulties you’ve faced and how God has comforted you. Or maybe relate a verse that you lean on when times are tough. (Ps 23, John 14:27, Rom 8:38-39)
2.
Letting Go
Just after the tsunami struck, Maria was clinging to a tree, relatively safe, when she saw Lucas drifting by. Letting go meant danger. Staying put meant survival. But she let go. Why?
Possible Response
Survival instinct says stay. But love compels action. Maria let go because a mother’s love is sacrificial. This echoes God’s heart; He didn’t stay safe in heaven but entered our broken world to rescue us. Love risks everything to save the one. That’s what Jesus did. (Rom 5:8; John 3:16; Matt 18:12-14, Phil 2:6-8)
3.
The Last Thing
Maria risks both her life and Lucas’s to save the little boy, Daniel. When Lucas protests, Maria looks him in the eye and says, “Even if it is the last thing we do.” In that moment, Lucas launches into action. Why do her words get him moving?
Possible Response
Some might say he obeyed out of respect for his mother or sheer adrenaline. But Maria’s words weren’t just instructions—they were conviction. Lucas didn’t just hear them; he believed. True obedience is more than duty—it’s trust in the one giving the command. In the same way, obedience to God flows from trust, not fear. (John 14:15; Luke 11:28; Phil 2:8)
4.
Go Help Others
In the hospital, Maria—bruised, broken, and barely conscious—tells Lucas to go help others. And he goes! Such instant obedience and selflessness. What would you have done in his place?
Possible Response
Some might freeze, or focus only on their own survival. But love acts. Lucas obeys because he’s seen love modeled by his mother. Jesus calls us to the same—serving others even when it's hard. We’re saved to serve. Love moves us to act. (Gal 5:13; John 13:34-35; Jas 2:15-17)
5.
Regretting Good Deeds
Lucas spends hours helping reconnect families, only to return and believe his mom has died. Do you think he regretted helping others instead of staying by her side? Have you ever made a choice you later questioned?
Possible Response
Regret is natural when things don’t go how we hoped. Lucas might have wondered if he made the wrong choice. But doing good is never wasted. Even when we question our decisions, God can use them for good and bring purpose even when we don’t fully understand. (Rom 8:28; 2 Cor 7:10; Ps 37:23–24)
6.
Just a Sticker
After Lucas is told his mom died, a nurse puts a sticker on his chest with his name. In that moment, his identity feels reduced to a sticker. What defines who you are when everything else is stripped away?
Possible Response
In tragedy, people often feel invisible, like no one sees their pain. But God sees. Jesus said He knows every hair on our heads. We are never just a number to Him. He knows our names, our stories, and our tears. (Luke 12:6-7; Isa 43:1; Ps 56:8; John 10:3)
7.
Persistent Hope
Henry goes on a quest to find his wife and oldest son. Along the way he never gives up hope of finding them alive. What is “hope” to you? Would you have kept looking?
Possible Response
Some define hope as wishful thinking, but real hope drives action. Henry’s hope wasn’t passive—he searched because he believed his family could be found. Biblical hope is the same: not empty optimism, but trust in God’s promises that move us forward, even when the outcome is uncertain. (Rom 8:24-25; Heb 11:1; Jer 29:11)
8.
No Such Thing as Chance
The family is reunited in a sea of chaos, by what seems like sheer chance. But this wasn’t fiction—it really happened. How do you explain miracles like that, especially in real life?
Possible Response
Some say coincidence. Others say fate. But there’s no such thing as “chance” in God’s economy. He orchestrates even the smallest details for His purposes. The family’s reunion echoes God’s providence: He sees, He guides, and He restores what’s been lost. (Prov 16:9; Ps 37:23; Rom 8:28; Gen 50:20)
9.
Do Something
Each family member demonstrated the importance of caring for others. What small thing could you do this week to help someone in need?
Possible Response
We can’t fix everything, but we can do something. A note, a prayer, a meal, God uses our small actions to bring hope. (Matt 10:42, Jas 2:16-17, Gal 6:10)
10.
She Has to Know
Lucas was desperate to tell his mom that Daniel was safe and reunited with his family. Why was that so urgent for him, especially in the middle of their suffering?
Possible Response
Hope multiplies when shared. Lucas needed his mom to know their suffering had produced something good. In a world full of loss, news of rescue matters. This mirrors the Gospel—we are compelled to share the good news of rescue because it brings light, even in pain. (Rom 10:14-15; Isa 52:7; Luke 15:10)