Tsunami: Carrera contra el tiempo

This documentary tugs on your heartstrings in ways I can't truly express. On one hand what a relief it is to see some happy endings, and on the other the absolute horror at losing your dearest loved ones.

What a brilliant documentary this was, bringing to light and reminding us how cruel nature can be and yet how altruistic human beings are in the face of a disaster. Despite being only a child then in Malaysia, I still remember exactly what I was doing with my family on this very day. Experiencing the realisation of how lucky I am to have been with my family, all of us safe and sound miles away from this disaster truly moves me.

Watching the pain, hurt, grief and relief felt by the survivors as a result of the tsunami makes one realise just how resilient human beings can be. Can't recommend this recount of the 2004 Tsunami enough. Outstanding work!

I heard a man say that 'he left a message for his family: "Don't be upset. If I die, it's because I was trying to save another's life." And then I jumped into the water.' So it wasn't the terrible tragedy and immense related suffering that moved me the most about the Tsunami of Christmas 2004. It was really two things: How desperate people were, not to "just run to a higher place & save myself," but to try to help save some number of others, many of them utterly random strangers to them! And this second most moving thing: how desperate parents were to ensure that their children' survived, including if it meant one or both parents would perish in doing so. And also, related to this, the many now-grown children who did survive it and credit their loving parents for what to this day they consider "a miracle."

If these stories of the worst earthquake (an 8.9) and resulting tsunami in recorded history don't serve to move you, then you're truly a sociopath (i.e., you have zero empathy and compassion for any other human beings, and by virtue of that, you help to drag down the rest of humanity!). The wise decision of the filmmaker(s) here was to let survivors tell all their own stories with minimal interruptions. Listen, learn and imagine what you believe you'd do in their shoes (or bare bloody feet). Although rating material like this seems literally insane, I'll give it 8.5/10 stars.

I think it's an incredible documentary and shows lots of perspectives on this disaster. Still, I wish it was longer and covered all the countries hit. It was covering them sequentially, but suddenly it stops following that timeline. It's a missed potential for sure.

One interesting approach was to show the pacific tsunami warning center perspective on the earthquake. Shows how many things had to be improved in earthquake and tsunami detection and warning centers. In my country in Brazil, especifically my state Rio Grande do Sul, we also went through an unprecedented flood disaster last year and we also didn't have a proper detection nor warnings, getting hit by a disaster suddenly when you're just having a normal day is terrifying. I can only imagine the terror people faced on the tsunami, as it is many times worse.

That said, i really enjoyed all the episodes and i loved the format they chose for it. Quality wise it's top notch and extremely empathetic to the places covered.

Whilst I thought this was a very well made documentary which really told the story of the 2004 tsunami from the perspective of the people who endured and survived it, the interviewees were around 50% westerners which really does not reflect the shear number of indigenous people affected by this disaster in proportion to the number of western tourists who suffered. Apart from that one gripe, excellent.

I literal cried my eyes out. All the stories, survivors, losses and the mega impact this tsunami had on mankind, is portrayed in the most respectable way to do so.

You feel and see the damage and all the live it costs. But you feel how remarkable people are by nature. Without knowing what to do, people absolutely know what to do. Working together and set up medical care.

The moral of this documentary is in my opinion that mankind is good in nature. And in time of crisis, that part is unknowingly what we'll do and wont be forgotten.

It takes a good, excellent producing team to create a documentary like this, but it's humanity that already made the story.

Absolutely recommend to everyone to watch it. We are committed in doing the right thing, and this documentary makes you feel it in every fiber of your body.