Kursk is a 2018 movie directed by Thomas Vinterberg and written by Robert Rodat. The movie is based on the real-life Kursk submarine disaster that happened in 2000. The movie features an ensemble cast of Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, Colin Firth, and Max von Sydow.
The movie opens with a Russian naval exercise in the Barents Sea. The K-141 Kursk submarine is part of the exercise, and it is carrying a crew of 118 sailors. During the exercise, there is a serious accident that causes an explosion, and the submarine sinks. The few surviving sailors are trapped in a small compartment at the bottom of the sea, and they struggle to survive the freezing water and dwindling oxygen supply.
On the surface, the families of the sailors are desperate for information and a chance to rescue their loved ones. The Russian government is reluctant to share accurate information, and the families are left in limbo. A British officer, Commodore David Russell (played by Colin Firth), offers to help the Russians with rescue efforts. He faces bureaucratic hurdles and political red tape at every turn.
Meanwhile, the surviving sailors in the Kursk's compartment cling to hope as their oxygen supply runs out. They try to find ways to signal for help and keep their spirits up. Their story is told through flashbacks that reveal their individual struggles and relationships with each other.
As time runs out, the Russian government finally allows the British team to try and rescue the sailors. The rescue attempt is a race against the clock, with the odds stacked against them. The movie ends with a tribute to the sailors who lost their lives in the Kursk tragedy.
Kursk is a gripping and emotional movie that tells a powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and bureaucratic incompetence. The performances are strong, and the cinematography captures the claustrophobic and terrifying environment of the trapped sailors. It is a tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Kursk disaster, and a sobering reminder of the dangers of naval warfare.