A side impact airbag apparatus (20) has an inflatable airbag (40)that is adapted to be installed in a vehicle proximate the roof rail (32) of the vehicle and when inflated assumes a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle. The airbag (40) has a set of first airbag anchors (50) connected to a set of first vehicle anchors (51) within the vehicle. The airbag includes at least one movable airbag anchor (52) at an end of the airbag. A force-resolving member such as a bent rod (70;70a) is mounted within the vehicle and is adapted to slidingly receive and support the movable airbag anchor. The force-resolving member (70;70a) in concert with the foreshortening of the airbag (40) during inflation causes the movable airbag anchor (52) to move to a preferred orientation.
