The Impossible (2012)

This is a solid movie that chronicles one family's vacation turned hell during the December 26, 2004 tsunami. The family is by the pool when the water hits. The dad, Ewan McGregor, is in the pool with their two younger sons. Mom, Naomi Watts, and the oldest son are both standing in different places outside the pool. 

Amazingly enough, the entire family survives, which means they had a pretty good vacation if viewed from the distance of several years. The movie shows many families who do not fare as well. Most of the movie chronicles the path of Maria, the mom, and the oldest son. They both emerge in the moving water within sight of each other, manage to get close and hold on. Maria is injured badly, but they get to a hospital. The chaos of the hospital, the kindness of strangers, the desperate search for family members, the upheaval all around - that's what the movie is about, and it is is well portrayed.

The movie is not perfect, but it is really good. The kids' performances blew my mind. It's tense, though, and hard to watch at times. I recommend it.