Based on a true story...

There's no two ways about it: I LOVE that recently historical films have been creeping into cinemas, simultaneously proving to be box office hits and capable of dominating the awards season. For both a history and film nerd, this is an extremely exciting prospect! Despite not being able to watch a film without looking for all the inconsistencies, goofs and plot holes, I'm not one of those people that automatically moans when a film is historically inaccurate - slightly ironic, I know, but perfect for these type of films!

Holocaust Memorial Day 2013

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

~ First They Came - Pastor Martin Niemoller

The Impossible

The initial images of the Indian Ocean tsunami destroying everything in its path as it traveled with a ferocious and unstoppable intensity dominated the news on Boxing Day 2004. As the day progressed, footage emerged showing the rest of the world the wall of water tearing through buildings, flattening palm trees and sweeping thousands of unsuspecting people to their deaths. It was one of the most significant and shocking natural disasters of the twenty-first century: an environmental catastrophe that left a trail of utter devastation in its wake. The Impossible manages to powerfully recreate this very moment in history, with director Juan Antonio Bayona using the true story of the Spanish Belón family with great success. Stunning visual effects and powerhouse performances render this a truly astonishing film.