Although
it only had a fracture of the death toll, Russia’s Kursk submarine disaster was
sort of a mini-Chernobyl. It exposed the incompetence of the Russian Navy and
the utter indifference of its leadership for all the world to see. NATO could
have helped, but Putin waited five days to ask for help, while still enjoying
his seaside vacation. It is a cold, claustrophobic tragedy that unfolds in
Thomas Vinterberg’s The Command (a.k.a. Kursk), which opens today
in New York.
Hopefully,
we all know this will end badly, but if you didn’t, Putin likes the way you
consume news and media. The Kursk, an Oscar class Soviet-designed submarine
loaded with nuclear cruise missiles was participating in a large-scale naval
operation intended to intimidate the West. Well, so much for that. The sub
captain was warned their Big Bertha missile was running a little too hot, but
he chose to continue anyway—and then boom.
Mikhail
Averin will try to keep the rag tag remnant of survivors alive in the aft
chambers, in the vain hope a rescue party will reach them in time. Admiral
Vyacheslav Grudzinsky is willing to do whatever it takes to save the Kursk
crewmembers, including accepting the help of British and Norwegian recovery
specialists. Unfortunately, the top brass above him drags their feet, hoping a
barely sea-worthy Russian submersible can get the job done instead, for reasons
of propaganda ad paranoia. Of course, Grudzinsky understands better than anyone
how badly the Russian rescue teams have been equipped and maintained in recent
years.
What
happened to the men of the Kursk (and the 71 children they left behind) was a
disgrace, but it inspires some of the films most intense scenes, like when
Averin’s wife Tanya publicly shames Grudzinsky’s commanding officer at a media
op. Frankly, it is hard to believe Putin was subsequently re-elected, but then
again, its always been hard to believe, hasn’t it?
The
Flemish Matthias Schoenaerts makes a credible Russian, but he is way too big to
believe as a submariner. Regardless, his character is definitely a strong,
silent stereotype. In fact, none of the Kursk crewmembers really stand out. In
contrast. Peter Simonischek (Mr. Toni Erdmann) is terrific as Grudzinsky,
conveying all his prickly contradictions as an old school loyalist, who also
always happened to be a reformer by inclination. Likewise, Colin Firth adds
some heft and authority as Commodore David Russell, Grudzinsky’s old friendly
rival. Of course, Max Von Sydow effortlessly projects sophisticated menace as
the sinister, obfuscating Russian Navy chief.
