Kursk: The Last Mission [The Command] *** (2018, Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, Colin Firth, Peter Simonischek, Max von Sydow) – Movie Review

Director Thomas Vinterberg’s sterling, well-told, convincing, compelling film version of the true-life tragic story of the 2000 Russian K-141 Kursk submarine disaster is a worthwhile, immersive but challenging and harrowing experience.

Kursk: The Last Mission [The Command] (2018) focuses on the plight of the 23 survivors on the submarine, on how the rescue mission is handled by the Russian Government, and on the affect on the submariners’ families. It is an appalling tale of negligence and neglect – and murderous arrogance – told without frills or sentimentality. It feels like a revenge best served and eaten cold. The Danish director is obviously frozen in his rage at what happened.

Matthias Schoenaerts and Léa Seydoux star as Mikhail Averin and his wife Tanya Averina, Colin Firth helps out as British Commodore David Russell, who stands by ready to rescue if only the Russians will permit, Max von Sydow is chilling as the uncaring Russian in charge Vladimir Petrenko, and Peter Simonischek is notable as Russian Admiral Vyacheslav Grudzinsky.

Also in the cast are Pernilla August, August Diehl, Bjarne Henriksen, Magnus Millang,Artemiy Spiridonov, Joel Basman, Pit Bukowski, Matthias Schweighöfer, Tom Hudson, Steven Waddington and John Hollingworth.

It is written by Robert Rodat, based on Robert Moore’s book A Time to Die.

It looks, and was, quite expensive at $20,000,000.

It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2018.

There are some intense disaster-related scenes of peril and disturbing images, and some strong language.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Movie Review

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