Asia Society at the Movies: The Rescue

“A pulse-thumping, nerve-inducing, non-fiction standout.” — Associated Press

Join Asia Society at the Movies for a special virtual screening of The Rescue, a new documentary about the gripping true event that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand.

From Academy Award-winning Free Solo filmmakers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, The Rescue chronicles the enthralling, against-all-odds story of the Thai cave rescue mission. The fast-paced documentary keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with never-before-seen material and exclusive interviews that piece together the high stakes mission, highlighting the efforts of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs and U.S. Special Forces and detailing the expert cave divers’ audacious venture to dive the boys to safety. The Rescue brings alive one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times, shining a light on the high-risk world of cave diving, the astounding courage and compassion of the rescuers, and the shared humanity of the international community that united to save the boys.

Following the screening, join directors and producers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for a conversation on the incredible mission and how they brought this miraculous story to the screen. Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning producer Janet Yang serves as the moderator.

Speakers

E. Chai Vasarhelyi (Director, Producer)  is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker. Most recently Vasarhelyi directed and produced Free Solo, an intimate, unflinching portrait of rock climber Alex Honnold, which was awarded a BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019. The film also received seven Emmy awards. Vasarhelyi’s other films as a director include Meru (Oscars Shortlist 2016; Sundance Audience Award 2015); Incorruptible (Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award 2016); Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love (Oscilloscope, 2009), which premiered at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals; A Normal Life (Tribeca Film Festival, Best Documentary 2003); and Touba (SXSW, Special Jury Prize Best Cinematography in 2013). Vasarhelyi has directed pieces for the New York Times Op Docs, Netflix’s design series Abstract, ESPN’s Enhanced, among others. She has received grants from the Sundance Institute, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Bertha Britdoc, and the National Endowment of the Arts. She is a member of the DGA as well as AMPAS. She holds a B.A. in comparative literature from Princeton University and splits her time between New York City and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with her husband Jimmy Chin, their daughter, Marina, and son, James. 

Jimmy Chin (Director, Producer) is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, National Geographic photographer, and professional climber and skier. He has led and documented cutting-edge expeditions around the world for over 20 years. He has climbed and skied Mount Everest from the summit and made the coveted first ascent of the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru. His photographs have graced the covers of National Geographic Magazine and the New York Times Magazine. Jimmy co-produces and co-directs with his wife Chai Vasarhelyi. Their film Meru won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015 and was on the 2016 Oscar shortlist for Best Documentary Feature. Their latest documentary Free Solo won a BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019, as well as seven Emmy awards. Jimmy splits his time between New York City and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with Chai, their daughter, Marina, and son, James.

Janet Yang (Moderator) is a Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning Hollywood producer with deep roots in China. Yang is a member of the Board of Governors of the Motion Picture Academy, as well as an officer chairing the Membership and Governance Committee. Yang has worked with some of the most formidable directors and actors in the world. She came to prominence through her collaboration with Steven Spielberg on Empire of the Sun (Warner Bros., 1987). That was followed by a long partnership with multiple Academy Award-winner Oliver Stone — where she served as executive producer on the iconic The Joy Luck Club (Disney, 1993), and as a producer on the Golden Globe-winning The People vs. Larry Flynt (Columbia Pictures, 1996). Her latest film is Over the Moon (2020), an animated feature based on her original story inspired by the Chinese moon goddess. Iconic animator Glen Keane directs the movie for Netflix and Pearl Studios. Committed to fostering global understanding, Yang has been a long-standing member of the Committee of 100, an organization of the most prominent Chinese Americans; an advisory board member of Asia Society Southern California where she also chairs its highly regarded U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit; and co-founder of Gold House, the non-profit collective of the most influential Asian cultural leaders. She was also recently appointed as a presidential fellow at Loyola Marymount University.

How to Watch the Film

Beginning January 28 at 5 p.m. New York time until January 31 at 5 p.m. New York time, The Rescue will be available to stream via Eventive, with a 24-hour viewing window once the screening has started. Register now.

Outside of the above viewing window, The Rescue is currently available to stream on Disney Plus. Visit The Rescue’s website for further information on the film.

The Rescue
USA/UK | 107 minutes | 2021.

Genre: Documentary
Directors and Producers: E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
Producers: John Battsek, P.J. van Sandwijk, and Bob Eisenhardt
Executive Producers: Kevin Macdonald, Anna Barnes, Thanet Natisri, Santipong Changpuak, Michael Lesslie, Marie Savare, Andrew Ruhemann, Carolyn Bernstein, and Ryan Harrington
Co-Producer: Chloe Mamelok
Cinematographers: David Katznelson, Picha Srisansanee, and Ian Seabrook
Language: English

Screening event courtesy National Geographic Documentary Films.

This program is presented by Asia Society Museum, and Asia Society Southern California as part of a series titled Asia Society at the Movies.

Asia Society at the Movies
Asia Society at the Movies is a series of film screenings and conversations showcasing a broad range of films and filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora. Asia Society at the Movies celebrates established and emerging voices, contemporary films and classics, and documentaries. The series builds on Asia Society’s long and rich history of film programming. This initiative also serves to deepen understanding of Asian cultures—a core part of Asia Society’s mission since its creation. Learn more about the Asia Society at the Movies initiative.

About Asia Society Museum
Asia Society Museum presents a wide range of traditional, modern, and contemporary exhibitions of Asian and Asian American art, taking new approaches to familiar masterpieces and introducing under-recognized arts and artists. The Asia Society Museum Collection comprises a traditional art collection, including the initial bequests of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd, and a contemporary art collection. Through exhibitions and public programs, Asia Society provides a forum for the issues and viewpoints reflected in both traditional and contemporary Asian art and in Asia today.

About Asia Society Southern California
Established in Los Angeles in 1985, Asia Society Southern California (ASSC) is ideally situated at the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. ASSC has played a pivotal role through creative programs and activities in increasing shared knowledge, enhancing dialogue, and furthering cultural exchanges transcending regional boundaries. As part of the global Asia Society, which was founded more than 60 years ago in New York City, ASSC has launched many creative initiatives and programs addressing current issues of importance across the fields of the arts, culture, policy, business, and education.