The Third Wave

I read about this film in the New York Times Tribeca pull out and tried to get tickets but every show was sold out. I finally got three to the last screening and was very happy I made the effort. The film had a deep impact on my two other friends and we talked about it for 3 hours over dinner that night and then later for a few more hours!! It stays in your head. The message really got to us and made us think about helping more in the future. We are so stuck in our busy lives idolizing actors and sportsmen as our heroes and they aren't really real heroes. The real ones are in docs like this. After the screening the filmmakers talked in a humble way of spreading the volunteer message to the world and how everyone was needed to help including bankers, lawyers and actors and singers and musicians and every type of job. Kudos to Morgan Spurlock for finding this gem, he was already a hero of mine for helping me lose 55 pounds due to eating junk food!

In giving "The Third Wave" my highest rating, I have no problem in disclosing that I am friends with its remarkable director Alison Thompson. Did our friendship influence my great admiration for her documentary? Not at all. In fact, we became friends after I was awed by the movie at the Tribeca Film Festival and wanted very much to interview Thompson to post on a web site so that other people would know about "The Third Wave." All filmmakers and every fan of documentaries will be excited by the guerrilla, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants camera-work--where the camera seems to be exploring and documenting on its own, and anything or anybody can venture in front of the lens. But much more significant is that every movie fan, every human being, will experience an immense emotional impact watching Thompson and her volunteer cohorts, in an exotic far-away land, try to lessen heartbroken tragedy with kindness, selflessness, and good will--and to see the broken people they're trying to help love them back or--in scenes with a "Lord of the Flies" feel-turn against them. While the money we sent to Indonesia after the tsunami got "lost" in transit, the volunteers sent themselves to nurse (Alison set up a hospital and in her spare time collected the bones of tsunami victims) and rebuild and teach. These humanitarians are fascinating, as are the people they encounter in Piralya, the village they bring back to life in Sri Lanka. Talk about role models and saints, forget the heroes played by actors in fictional epics in theaters and watch this little movie for the real deal, a four-person emergency peace corps who went to the disaster area for two weeks and stayed for two extraordinary years--the least we viewers can do is watch Alison Thompson and company work miracles for not even two hours. Danny Peary

Where did all the billions in aid go? Not to this village. This is a wonderful raw and honest film that will make you laugh and cry. The inspiring efforts of this team of people that were thrust together by their common desire to be on the ground helping make you want to clap out loud or pack your bags. The cultural insight is captivating as these people struggle to repair their lives with the help of Alison, Oscar and the team. While the village parents squabble over petty matters the children start to shine becoming a major part of the film. This is the film about the people that actually did get out of their chair and do something. You will feel inspired.

Wow! It's not often that you come across a film like this. You know the ones where you walk away stunned and full of emotion then it hits you deeper than you ever thought possible because the film was based on real life events? From the start right through to the finish this film is full of colourful characters and heartfelt stories. This film gently captures the events of a small coastal village just after the Tsnumai hit. It follows through to the moments when the village is finally self sufficient again. I won't spoil the fun but the stories of the village people and the international volunteers are priceless. Totally recommend seeing this one!

I seen this film at the film festival and it really moved me, I loved it. Some parts even made me cry because it was so sad. A lot of people died and thanks to the producer and crew who chipped in and helped the people, a lot of lives were saved. Its amazing how far people will go to help other people. I loved it so much that I saw it twice. If you haven't seen this movie yet I highly recommend it but I recommend that you bring tissue because I am sure that you will shed a tear for these poor people struck by a disaster. This film will bring back your faith in humanity. I have seen some of the other works of Alison Thomson and she is amazing. MURRAYVIDEO