What makes a hero? Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin answered that question in their new documentary ‘The Rescue.’ This filmmaking duo won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2019 for ‘Free Solo.’ That doc chronicles Alex Honnold and his incredible climb up Yosemite’s El Capitan without ropes. ‘The Rescue’ chronicles the 2018 cave rescue of a dozen young soccer players and their coach. It is a gripping odyssey showing the selfless and valiant effort the rescuers endured to save the boys. This documentary must be seen to be believed.
This story captivated the world back in 2018. The young soccer team and their coach were trapped in a lengthy cave system when the monsoon season hit Thailand. The water rushed like a river blocking all the exits. It is a suspenseful ordeal as it becomes a race against time. As the rain falls in buckets, the caves keep filling up with water. The tragic reality is that the water could rise and drown the boys. This was an international rescue operation. Members of the Royal Thai Army, the Thai Navy SEALS and American Air Force Pararescue veterans helped with the mission. Oddly enough it was a handful of amateur divers that saved the day.
This is where the documentary explores the uncommon hero. Cave divers Rick Stanton, a retired fireman and John Volanthen, an IT consultant from England were flown to Thailand. The Navy Seals and other military personnel were not used to the conditions in the cave. The rainfall literally formed a river through the approximately two miles of cave system. It was an extremely dangerous situation. As the camera follows the divers swimming through the murky water, the audience gets the terrifying sensation of claustrophobia. Miraculously it is these eccentric amateur cave divers that find the boys alive. After days alone in the dark cave, these brave lads were hungry but in good spirits.
Finding the boys was the easy part. We soon discover the real challenge is getting them out of the cave alive without drowning. The options were grim. Tasking the boys to swim without diving experience was too risky. Waiting out the monsoon would result in certain death. As the water kept rising, the caves would eventually fill up with water. The only plan that made sense was a risky one. I will not spoil the solution they came up with but it was the only one that would bring them out alive. The footage in the caves is a nail-biting experience. You feel like you are right there with the divers as they carry out this dangerous mission to save the boys.
Director Ron Howard plans to make a Hollywood version of this harrowing rescue titled ‘Thirteen Lives.’ I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t skip this documentary. It was made by two of the most talented outdoor adventure directors working today. This story is not only one about selfless heroism but about the global community coming together. The suspense is overwhelming. The actual rescue is incredible. It is one of the best documentaries of the year and it should not be missed.
