It is a chain of historical events that coincide with the disaster of the K-141 Kursk submarine and government neglect that has been evident afterwards. Events begin where sailors struggle to survive through a real tragedy. It is a real tragedy as their families have resisted the dilemma of political obstacles and impossible opportunities to save them because of government neglect.
Vinterberg returns to the aspect ratio of 4: 3 to tell us that his speech is over, that we have returned to the oppressive state to answer the questions. Smart move, bright but disturbing. [Full Review in Spanish]
On the mainland, the struggle of women, parents and children is also tense and intense. [Director Thomas] Vinterberg goes from one to the other, trying to give them the same weight. [Full review in Spanish]
Thomas Vinterberg adapts one of the more controversial accounts of the tragedy, but strikes an even keel between humanising the doomed seamen and demonising the high command who left them to die.
Does put a more realist slant on proceedings. But the clunky dialogue, clichéd relationships and characterisation of every character undermine all these efforts.
"Kursk" occasionally lands an emotive blow but only in its more fictionalized stretches, while it pulls its punches with the thorniest and most provocative elements of the real story...
