It has been six years since Thomas Vinterberg unveiled his Oscar-nominated psycho-drama “The Hunt” at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012, though it feels as if it were just yesterday.
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As the co-founder of the Dogme 95 movement — the other forefather being Lars Von Trier — Vinterberg is hardly a novice in the cinematic world, though both of his most recent features “Far From the Madding Crowd” and “The Commune” have failed to shake up the scene when compared to “The Hunt” or his debut outing “The Celebration.”
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Nevertheless, the filmmaker’s upcoming film “Kursk” may be able to change the tide in Vinterberg’s favor. Based on the devastating true story of the Kursk submarine disaster, the real-life account is wrought with tragedy, heroism and even horror to a certain extent. Despite its harrowing conclusion, the subject matter seems well overdue for a silver screen adaptation. Here is the official synopsis:
It is the first major Russian Navy exercise since the end of the Soviet Union, but the K-141 Kursk is deemed unsinkable and its crew recognized as the best in the Northern Fleet. Among the crew is Captain-Lieutenant Mikhail Kalekov (Schoenaerts), a devoted naval officer with a loving wife (Seydoux), and child, and another on the way. He and his crew board the Kursk and descend into the Barents Sea with a sense of optimism and fraternity.
Then come the explosions…Once the sub’s seismic activity is detected, Britain, France, and Norway offer their assistance, but Russia insists it has the situation under control. Time is of the essence, but time keeps passing.
With early acclaim describing the film as a “heartrending tribute” to the victims and survivors of the incident, “Kursk” seems set on a direct course to thrill admirers of Vinterberg’s prior work and newcomers alike.
The cast list is equally attention-grabbing, with Colin Firth — is there a historical drama that exists without Colin Firth nowadays? — Matthias Schoenaerts (“Bullhead,” “Disorder”), Léa Seydoux (“Blue is the Warmest Color,” “Spectre”) and Max Von Sydow receiving top billing. Furthermore, “Kursk” also features Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist, best known for his roles in “John Wick” and the original “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” trilogy, in his final performance.
“Kursk” will open overseas in November. However, a stateside theatrical release date has yet to be announced. The film debuts in Toronto this week.