Summary
- María Belón, the real-life survivor portrayed in The Impossible, now works as a physician and travels as a motivational speaker, describing her tsunami expertise as a “gift” that strengthened her spirit.
- Enrique Álvarez, María’s husband, volunteers for Proactiva Open Arms and maintains a constructive outlook, empathizing with others and actively serving to Turkish refugees settle in Greece.
- The Belón youngsters, Simon, Tomas, and Lucas, have pursued training and careers in numerous fields, together with anthropology, worldwide affairs, and medication, whereas additionally being actively concerned in humanitarian work and selling constructive change for the longer term.
The Impossible‘s terrifying depiction of the tsunami waves and their affect makes it arduous to not marvel what occurred to the actual household depicted within the movie. J.A. Bayona’s 2012 movie chronicles the real-life story of 5 individuals who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The Impossible marks the characteristic movie debut of Tom Holland and in addition stars horror-movie staples, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor.
While their nationalities and names had been modified for the film, The Impossible is predicated on the actual experiences of María Belón, her husband, Enrique, and their three youngsters, Lucas, Simón, and Tomás. Although The Impossible drew some criticism for its artistic liberties, survivors of the 2004 tsunami praised the movie for its authenticity, particularly its lifelike portrayal of how Thai folks assisted survivors. María Belón and her household even helped the filmmakers behind The Impossible precisely traverse their experiences onto the massive display. However, though The Impossible does an unimaginable job at capturing the realism of the occasion, the actual household’s true story is way extra terrifying and awe-inspiring on the identical time.
Where Is The Impossible’s Real María Belón Now?
Even to at the present time, María Belón reportedly works as a physician and travels all over the world as a motivational speaker. In October 2020, María Belón appeared in a motivational video for BCC Speakers (by way of BCC Speakers on YouTube), through which she described her tsunami expertise as a “gift” as a result of it strengthened her spirit. She spoke to fellow survivors and defined that The Impossible shouldn’t be her story however “the history of all of us.” María Belón additionally recalled how she would “lovingly” combat with director Bayona throughout manufacturing and defined that the underwater scenes in The Impossible had been designed to make all viewers really feel how the victims felt through the tsunami.
Where Is The Impossible’s Real Enrique Álvarez Now?
As per experiences, Maria’s husband, Enrique, volunteers for Proactiva Open Arms, a Spanish group based in 2015 that helps Turkish refugees choose the Greek island of Lesbos. Like his spouse, Álvarez refuses to take credit score for his contributions and maintains a constructive outlook towards all the things he and his household went by means of after the 2004 tsunami. “Having lived through certain situations in the past doesn’t desensitize you. Instead, you empathize more with others. Things feel closer,” he says (by way of HuffPost).
Where Are The Impossible’s Real Lucas, Tomás, and Simon Belón Now?
Simón, the youngest Belón little one, acquired his highschool diploma from United World College-USA and later earned a Bachelor’s diploma with a Major in Anthropology and Geography and a minor in Sustainability from University College Utrecht within the Netherlands. He is at present working as a Bicycle Mayor Network Manager at an Amsterdam-based international NGO known as BYCS. He can also be an avid bicycle owner and has volunteered at his father’s NGO, Proactive Open Arms, prior to now (by way of LinkedIn).
Tomás, the center little one, studied at Atlantic College in Wales earlier than transferring to the United States to pursue a level in Science, Technology, and International Affairs at Georgetown University. Like his dad and mom, Tomás continues to overtly discuss his household’s tsunami expertise however firmly believes that (by way of United Nations on Youtube) “while it’s important to reflect on the past, it’s equally important to change the future.” The eldest, Lucas (portrayed by Tom Holland in The Impossible), studied medication at University College in London and performed his personal half as a humanitarian by actively working as a physician through the pandemic in 2020 and spreading consciousness concerning the significance of social distancing through the time (by way of El Pais).
Sources: BCC Speakers on YouTube, Proactiva Open Arms, LinkedIn, United Nations on Youtube, El Pais