As superficial and silly as it may seem, the title of a film can really help or hurt the project’s financial prospects. A great title can be memorable and instantly recognizable, leading to increased buzz and, hopefully, ticket sales. A terrible title can be confusing and off-putting, failing to sell audiences and attract eyeballs. For Saban Films, the title “Kursk” apparently falls in the latter category. So now, as the film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, arrives in theaters, the distributor decided it’s best to call the film “The Command.” Yeah, not great, either.
As seen in the trailer, “The Command” (can you get more generic?) follows the true story of the K-1412 KURSK, a Russian submarine that sank in 2000. The film centers on the crew of the disabled submarine and their families as government obstacles and other issues get in the way of trying to find answers.
The film stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, Peter Simonischek, Max von Sydow, and Colin Firth. “The Command” is directed by Thomas Vinterberg, who is probably best known for the films “The Celebration,” “Submarino,” “The Hunt,” and “Far from the Madding Crowd.”
“Kursk”…err, “The Command” (still don’t like the title) arrives exclusively on DirecTV on May 23 before theaters and digital on June 21.
Here’s the synopsis:
Colin Firth stars in the unforgettable true story of the K-1412 KURSK, a Russian flagship nuclear powered submarine that sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea in August 2000. As 23 sailors fought for survival aboard the disabled sub, their families desperately battled bureaucratic obstacles and impossible odds to find answer and save them.