Kursk: The Last Mission trailer - Schoenaerts stars in tragic story of supposedly unsinkable sub

*** My 3.5 star review of Kursk: The Last Mission ***

I’m expecting heroism but no happy ending with this one, as Kursk: The Last Mission is based on a true – and desperately sad – story from 19 years ago, when the Russian Kursk submarine ended up on the ocean floor after a terrible fire.

All 118 of the crew died – and the trailer (see below, along with images from the film) resonates with sadness.

Matthias Schoenaerts is Russian submarine Captain Mikhail Averin, with Colin Firth as Captain David Russell, the head of the UK operation – which sounds like inspired casting (and I do like a man in a Royal Navy jumper). Léa Seydoux co-stars as Averin’s wife, Tanya.

Here’s the synopsis:

“When a Russian naval exercise goes horribly wrong, the Kursk submarine erupts in flame killing most of the men onboard and sending the trapped survivors to the bottom of sea. Time is running out for Russian Captain Mikhail Averin and his crew, as fire engulfs the vessel starving them of oxygen. Ignoring the advice of their own people, the Russian government refuses the help of the UK Navy operation headed by Captain David Russell. When they finally give way to mounting domestic pressure, it’s too little too late.”

Kursk: The Last Mission premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s directed by Thomas Vinterberg (Far From The Madding Crowd). By the way, if you like submarine movies, check out my Submarine section here.