PHUKET: Actor Naomi Watts and Colonel Khemmarin Hassiri are both dreaming 'The Impossible' dreams.

For Watts, being hailed for a great performance in the swirling water of the tsunami movie, an Oscar nomination and possible glory is being predicted for February.

For Colonel Khemmarin, the aim is to bring closure for families who still do not know for certain whether sons, mothers, daughters lived or died when the wall of water swept in on December 26, 2004.

Watts, winning the praise of reviewers for taking audiences with her through an emotional wave of survival and love, the tsunami film sometimes brought too much realism.

''The worst was the day an underwater stunt went wrong,'' she told one interviewer. ''I was strapped in a chair that was designed to spin me around underwater, but the crew wasn't able to shut if off.

''I couldn't get out and was struggling for breath . . . ''

Colonel Khemmarin has just returned to the region north of Phuket where 'The Impossible' was made, and where the tsunami claimed most of its tourist and resident victims in Thailand.

While the film is likely to reawaken interest around the world in the life and death struggle that took place on the day when the sea rushed in, Colonel Khemmarin's interest is set below ground.

His aim is to give names back to the 369 people whose bodies lie in special tombs north of Phuket, protected by concrete walls and metal caskets to maintain their DNA.

''Our mission will be to end the task we started,'' the colonel said. ''To give all the remaining victims back to their families.''

Colonel Khemmarin was a member of the international forensics team, the Thai Tsunami Victim Indentification squad, which gave names back to thousand of the 5400 tsunami dead in Thailand.

When the squad was disbanded in 2008, the ID process came to a halt with hundreds of families still not knowing what happened to their loved ones.

Now, with his appointment by chance to oversee the coastal area where the tsunami victims' cemetery lies, Colonel Khemmarin aims to finish the mighty task with help from the project's former manager, Nitinai Sornsongkram.

''I would like to complete the work that so many people on the international team felt was important,'' he said. ''Our motto was 'We Will Take Them Home.'

''The unit was disbanded in 2008 with the identifications uncompleted. I believe we can finish the job.''

Thirty victims who have been identified also still lie in the cemetery, their bodies unclaimed for a variety of reasons.

''I plan to trace their relatives and let them know,'' Colonel Khemmarin said. The aftermath of the tsunami was an emotional time.

Colonel Khemmarin says he is still in touch with people from different backgrounds who long to know the fate of family members.

''For me, it was a special task and it still remains a special task. If anyone out there has information that can help, please let me know.''

The colonel is as committed as Naomi Watts in playing his role. His reward? To finally provide closure to as many families as he possibly can.

Colonel Khemmarin Hassiri, chief of Takuapa Police, can be contacted via editor@phuketwan.com or +66 80 1202323 or +66 81 4999767.