But she and her family survived and their incredible story has inspired. After i first saw the impossible i went onto my computer and researched this tsunami as well as others and then i really understood how devestating it really was. What has saved her, she tells tim adams, is daring to remember and to. Of course none of that matters when the tsunami hits.
Dec 21, 2012 tsunami survivors impossible story hits the big screen. The tsunami survivor who lost her whole family world news. She was portrayed in the 2012 film the impossible by naomi. Jan 04, 20 he was present in thailand during the 2004 tsunami, his experiences mirroring those portrayed in the film the impossible. Maria and lucas struggle to survive, are helped by some really nice locals, and end up in a crazycrowded rural hospital trying to deal with the onslaught of victims. The 2004 indian ocean earthquake and tsunami occurred at 00. Maria belon born may 12, 1966 is a spanish physician and motivational speaker, known for surviving the 2004 indian ocean earthquake and tsunami when she was on vacation in thailand with her husband enrique quique alvarez and three sons lucas, simon and tomas alvarez. The tsunami killed 230,000 people across thailand, sri lanka, indonesia and 11 other countries.
Jan 01, 20 the tale bayona heard that day and which he tells to devastating effect in his new film, the impossible was the true account of how a spanish doctor, maria belon, together with her husband. The impossible is set during the indian ocean tsunami of 2004, which saw 30meterhigh waves demolish much of coastal indonesia, thailand and sri. According to the mom maria belon, lucas is now 18 years old and training to be a doctor, and she described him as being immensely brave. Belon, a doctor, and her husband, enrique alvarez, were on christmas vacation. It had been nearly three years since the indian ocean tsunami. Tsunami survivor tomas alvarezbelon on wales lifeguard. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Her story is the subject of juan antonio bayona s the impossible. The impossible tsunami survivor maria belon interview inspirational story. Its a true story, based on maria belon and her family, vacationing from spain when the tsunami hit. Naomi watts plays a tourist whose family is torn apart by a tsunami in the impossible. The tsunami took 230,000 lives in 14 countries, but somehow spared belon s entire family, who found each other at a hospital after days of frantic searching. After reaching dry land, lucas and maria sleep in a tree for safety. And being there, i gota to know and love the belon family, another great privilege.
Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of the best movies ever made only at tcm. Naomi watts next film role sees the actress play spanish tsunami survivor maria belon. Maria and her eldest are swept one way, henry and the youngest another. Jan 03, 20 by angela dawson front row features hollywoodmaria belon is more than just a tsunami survivor. Maria and her oldest son, lucas, manage to find each other in the aftermath, but theres no sign of henry or the younger boys. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives, and the impossible never ever loses sight of this. She tells him not to drain all his youthful energy on her but to see what he can do to help others. When the production team behind summits the impossible met with 2004 indian ocean tsunami survivor maria belon at a quiet coffee shop in barcelona in the spring of 2008, they werent certain that. Moments later the belonalvarez family was swept apart by the torrential force of the indian ocean tsunami of 2004. Her story is the subject of juan antonio bayonas the impossible, an emotional and riveting account of the 2004 tsunami.
Maria was not out of the woods even after leaving thailand she spent 14 months in hospitals in singapore and their homeland spain but the familys astonishing survival was a rare example of good luck. Quique alvarez, his wife maria belon and their three young children were swept away by a massive wall of water as they lounged around the pool at the orchid resort hotel in thailand in 2004. For belon, a tsunami can be any giant wave that hits us in life, provoking bruises, injury, confusion and asphyxiation. She is a woman who has experienced a horrific tragedy and lived to tell the tale. Maria belon, a spanish tourist who was lounging by a pool in thailand along with her husband and three young sons when the tsunami hit.
Maria gains a whole host of nasty infections in a hospital, henry sets out to find out whether she and lucas even survived, leaving the two little boys with a group of kids who get taken up to higher ground. The story of a tourist family in thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 indian ocean tsunami. Miracle mum relives 2004 tsunami ordeal which inspired new. Maria belon herself, who was charged by her family with ensuring protection of her familys story during production, was not bothered by the fact the script was rewritten in english repeatedly justified by financing and audience concerns nor that u. A perfect paradise vacation until a distant noise becomes a roar. Watts and mcgregor prove they are world class actors and young tom holland is an amazing newcomer with all the emotions of a boy forced into manhood. After a long and difficult journey, they arrive at a crowded hospital where doctors worry about maria s badly damaged leg. All i could see was water and two of my boys clinging to the tops of trees. Understand one thing as you watch this movie that it was written by maria belon. Naomi watts shares the spotlight with tsunami survivor maria. Mar 09, 20 sonali deraniyagala lost her husband, children and parents in the 2004 indian ocean tsunami, and was maddened with grief. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world. Jan 05, 20 i was not in thailand for the tsunami a but i was there for the making of the film, the impossible, which i know is my great fortune in more ways than one.
Spanishborn tomas alvarez belons life changed forever on 26 december 2004, when he was caught up in the tragedy of the indian ocean tsunami. Maria belon estela, 55 delray beach, fl background report. So it was only appropriate the two women shared the spotlight at. Books about the 2004 tsunami in indonesia score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The impossible real life tsunami survivor maria belon. Her story is the subject of juan antonio bayonas the impossible, an emotional. Add to favorites do you want to book maria belon as speaker. Tsunami survivor maria belon reflects on the impossible. Tsunami survivor tomas alvarez belon on wales lifeguard training. Jan 27, 20 the impossible real life tsunami survivor maria belon interview. Jan 31, 20 and what about the real family the movie is based on, the ones that survived the tsunami. They are able to rescue a toddler from a pile of rubbish.
Tsunami survivors impossible story hits the big screen bbc. Actors naomi watts and ewan mcgregor, director antonio bayona, and 2004 tsunami survivor maria belon on their film, the impossible. Tsunami survivor maria belon reflects on the impossible posted on may 25 by the ultimate rabbit writer s note. Maria belon s birthday is 12041964 and is 55 years old. The tale bayona heard that day and which he tells to devastating effect in his new film, the impossible was the true account of how a spanish doctor, maria belon. By angela dawson front row features hollywoodmaria belon is more than just a tsunami survivor. The impossible tsunami survivor maria belon interview. Jan 05, 20 maria belon alvarez was badly wounded as she was dragged under water by the vast indian ocean tsunami of boxing day 2004. Hollywoodmaria belon is more than just a tsunami survivor. In every sense of the word, maria is a beautiful woman. Naomi watts shares the spotlight with tsunami survivor.
I learned a valuable lesson from this movie and that was the devestation that a tsunami can cause. Apr 25, 20 18 things we learned from the impossible commentary. An unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time the 2004 indian ocean tsunami. Spanish tsunami survivors maria belon and son lucas belon attend the uk charity premiere of the impossible at bfi imax on november 19, 2012 in london, england. Spanish tsunami survivors maria belon and son lucas belon. But i did read the real maria belon did agree that the six hours of relentless waves had been consolidated in order to get on with the. Maria belon and naomi watts exclusive interview the impossible. After settling in and exchanging gifts, they go to the pool, like so many other tourists. Recalling the moment the tsunami struck, maria, a doctor, says. So it was only appropriate the two women shared the spotlight at the movies spanish premiere on monday night.
A doctor and lawyer by profession, belon says these tsunamis may be caused by failure, an accident, illness or loss. It was an undersea megathrust earthquake that registered a magnitude of 9. Naomi watts, playing maria belon, clings to a tree with eldest son, lucas, in the impossible after emerging from the tsunami disbelief. Dec 21, 2012 director juan antonio bayonas the impossible aims to tell one familys story of struggle and survival after the disastrous indian ocean tsunami of 2004. Jan 27, 20 the impossible tsunami survivor maria belon interview inspirational story. They decide to spend the christmas holiday in thailand at a resort and are at the resorts pool when the tsunami occurs. The impossible real life tsunami survivor maria belon interview. For bayona, the story of belon s familys survival helped shed a light on the devastation left in the tsunamis wake.
Mr alvarez, played by ewan mcgregor, seen here in the film with two of his sons the moment they realise the tsunami is headed right for them meanwhile. He was present in thailand during the 2004 tsunami, his experiences mirroring those portrayed in the film the impossible. She was severely injured in the tsunami and nearly died. The impossible is beautifully accurate, writes tsunami. Nothing is impossible for maria belon front row features.
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