Ron Howard’s 2022 film chronicles factual events in the attempt to the rescue 12 Thai school boys and their coach after the group become trapped, two miles deep, in a cave flooded by torrential rains. Of course actual events do most of the heavy lifting but near-seamless writing smooths the rough edges, (dramatic arc, story flow, etc.)
What Howard and screenwriter William Nicholson remain target locked on is the kids—12 school boys, (one boy turned eight-years old the day of the floods) and a coach scarcely older than his charges. Indeed saving the boys is everyones’ focus.
“We cannot wait on the government.” -Thanet Natisri, Water engineer, hero
Local officials, central government officials, and the military spearhead rescue efforts. However a Thai water engineer seeks out a local expert on the Doi Nang Non Mountains in a guerilla effort to redirect streams and sinkholes responsible for flooding the caves. Parents, police, civil authorities, even local farmers band together to help the kids.
“I don’t even like kids.” -Richard Stanton
Desperate with stalled rescue efforts and rising water, the Thai Government reach out to rescue divers, John Volanthen (Colin Farrell) and Richard Stanton (Viggo Mortensen). The brilliance of Howard’s film—and the lesson for writers—is in subverting expectations. Instead of a muscular, sullen and thoroughly American action hero, (probably haunted by his past) we get soft-spoken, distinctly graying men who simply want to help.
Volanthen has a child the same age as some of the boys in the cave. Stanton is less than enthusiastic by the prospects of the rescue but respects Volanthen enough to answer the call.
Boots on the ground, Stanton and Volanthen are ready to go into the cave. However there are political obstacles. Just as sure as the Brits would’ve been cast American in traditional Hollywood production, the bureaucrats would be the natural villain here—especially the captain of the Thai Navy SEALs. But Nicholson and Howard's briliance is in subverting tropes.
“Happy men don’t volunteer.” Boris Pasternak
There are egos here, to be sure but no one forgets the 13 people in the cave. While neither are overly optimistic with the Brits, both bureaucrats and military men are at wit’s end to save the boys. When Volanthen and Stanton explain to the Thai Navy SEALs that cave diving is completely different than open water diving, the military men listen. The SEALs had made it 1600 meters, (right at a mile) into the flooded caverns before turning back.
“They found them. The old men found them.” Thai Navy Seal
When Volanthen and Stanton make their dive and find the boys, still alive, over two miles in, no one is sour. When the military and civil administrator share the news with everyone—against Stanton’s warnings—neither he nor Valanthen hold grudges or fuss. It bears noting (in reference to expectations and tropes) that no one punches anyone. Honestly, no one raises their voice in this film. It's a quiet flex from professionals who let the story do the work.
“Alpha men protecting the alpha in each other…” Fiona Quinn
Type-A personality trait is a theory attributed to behavioral patterns associated with high-achievement, competitiveness, and aggression. It is an unproven theory. Hollywood has also perverted the theory into a stereotype “Alpha Male” who is the leader of the proverbial pack, self-confident, and POWERFUL. Most thrillers feature one flavor or another of this archetype.
Ron Howard, et al, show us the real alpha—the protector and leader. The Thai alphas (divers and mountain man) are stymied by the circumstances. They don’t know how to save the kids. Meanwhile, the western alphas, (Stanton and Volanthen) are nearly immobilized by their thorough understanding of how grim the prospects of the kids coming out alive really are.
After the initial discovery, The SEALs undertake a dive to bring in supplies. In the process they use more oxygen than they anticipate and three must remain with the boys. On the swim out, Saman Gunan, (Weir Sukollawat Kanaros) dies in a terrifying accident.
There is no indignant “I told you so,” from the westerners. They know it could just as easily have been one of them. Everyone feels the loss. Everyone struggles under the gravity of those lives sustained in a pocket cave where the oxygen saturation of the air is dropping.
These are real people with real egos. When Volanthen suggests bringing in additional divers Jason (Paul Gleeson) and Chris (Tom Bateman) he qualifies with an “if.” As in if Jason, (Paul Gleeson) isn’t pissed that he hadn’t already been called. Stanton, (considered one of the best rescue divers in the world) humbles himself to ask Jason if he will help them. He also calls in Dr. Richard Harrison, (Joel Edgerton) also an accomplished cave diver.
The buddy system
Stanton takes no pride in the solution he comes up with. Dr. Harrison (Joel Edgerton) certainly finds no joy in Stanton’s idea. If not apparent, the solution—to get 13 people who have never dived before, out of two miles of flooded caverns with treacherous currents—is deadly-dangerous and won’t be spoiled here.
Again, Stanton is deferential to Dr. Harris. Both Stanton and Volanthen are respectful when they approach regional Governor Narongsak (Sahajak Boonthanakit) and Captain Arnont, (Theerapat Sajakul) the SEAL team leader with their plan. But with new rains rolling in and diversion efforts at their very limit, Governor Narongsak tells Stanton and Volanthen that their plan is approved and he will take full responsibility for the expected casualties.
Care for relationships is the line that tethers us all
In the course of the rescue a diver makes a critical error. He becomes disoriented. The result is nearly tragic.
Stanton recognizes instantly that a reprimand or even the shadow of judgment will only compound the difficulty and danger stacked on their efforts. Instead, Stanton is gentle with the errant diver. A third diver is even more compassionate and shows tremendous regard for his comrade’s emotional wellbeing just as he does for the children’s physical wellbeing.
We are all fumbling around in the dark, one misstep from deep water and deadly currents. The only way we get through is by caring for one another. That the central message in this film.
If you haven’t seen Thirteen Lives yet, go, do, now. Run, run, run. It is an excellent demonstration of humanity as well as a master-class in writing.
The image at the top “Thirteen Lives Promotional Poster” belongs to MGM, UA, et al. It is used here for educational/instructive purposes as covered by the Fair Use Doctrine.
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