Around the time the Chilean mining accident took place in 2010, I learned only the basics of what happened; namely the number of men trapped and the fact that fortunately, against the odds, they all made it out alive.

Starring Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Mario Casas, Gabriel Byrne and Rodrigo Santoro, The 33 is the story of the 33 men, those who helped get them out and their experiences of the fateful day, through to the rescue.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, The 33 had me thinking about how much people really do need each other to make it. The survival of all the 33 took a lot of different decisions and actions both big and small, by the men trapped deep underground and people above ground.

The running time of The 33 is just over two hours; too long if you ask me. However, that likely had something to do with me wanting to see the suffering of the men end. After all, the audience already knows that all will be well in the end. A luxury the 33 didn’t have, effectively making their emotional journeys even even more moving.

One wonders, would I have watched The 33 if the ending wasn’t as happy? Probably not, because, well, wouldn’t that make it a sort of a horror movie, the very genre I’m not at all partial to?

I see The 33 as a well-told story  about what it can take to survive when the odds are very much against you. As you watch The 33, you won’t be able to avoid noticing just how great the musical score is.

.The late, great James Horner is the composer responsible. He’s also the man behind the music in both Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009). 

Watch The 33 because it’s good.

Happy Film Loving,

G