The Rescue (2021) Review

Title: The Rescue
Year: 2021
Director (s): Chin & Vasarhelyi

Country: UK
Language: English

In a world that seems fractured and unable to come to an agreement, The Rescue is a refreshing documentary that provides an example of the miracles that can happen when nations come together for a common purpose. This noble common goal, rescuing a dozen young soccer players trapped in a cave, proves that with innovation & the right mindset humans can do the near impossible. 

The Rescue is a chronicle of the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.

To construct The Rescue, the directors (who previously made the enticing Free Solo) and their editor weave other people's documentary footage, news footage from around the world, reconstructed scenes and interviews with the professional divers to create a compelling, energetic, tense narrative that will leave audiences on the edge of their seat. 

Despite knowing the result, the events of The Rescue unfold in a way that makes you uncertain of the outcome. The picture maintains an immediacy, even when the operation is forced to go at a slower pace. I appreciated how detailed these events were & how the divers dissected even the smallest of their decisions. 

The Rescue is a well-made documentary that can be viewed on Disney+. It is quite remarkably made & provides for a great thriller, while also being a tearjerker for some.