Submarines and nuclear reactors (K-19: The Widowmaker (DVD))

Member Name: sunmeilan

Product:	K-19: The Widowmaker (DVD)
Date:	03/02/06 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Based on a true story, very addictive watching

Disadvantages: Horribly depressing

Introduction
I usually stay well clear of anything that involves nuclear power or war when it comes to films. But sometimes I have to let my boyfriend choose what we watch and this time it was his turn. I got a book ready, not really expecting to want to watch the film; but surprisingly found it very addictive. The film is set in 1961 during the fight for world supremacy between the US and the Soviet Union over nuclear power. If you prefer comedy or light-hearted chick flicks, this is not for you. But it is a very good film with some powerful performances from all involved - definitely recommended.

The director
Kathryn Bigelow is one of the few female directors to have hit Hollywood. She is an artist by trade and directed the music video for the New Order song Touched by the Hands of God.

The plot
The men on board the first Russian nuclear submarine K19 are preparing for a mission to test their nuclear weapons. Those in power decide that the test mission must take place earlier than planned, despite exhortations by the captain that the ship, Mikhail Polenin, is not yet completely sea-worthy. An ambitious officer, Alexei Vostrikov, is put in charge of the submarine, to preside over the current captain. One of the officers in charge of the nuclear reactor is found to be drunk and sacked, to be replaced by a young lieutenant,Vadim, straight out of training. Before the submarine has even left dock, 10 men have died and it has been nicknamed The Widowmaker.

Despite these initial problems, the test mission is successful. As a result, the crew are sent off on another mission; off the east coast of America. Yet on the way, disaster strikes; one of the cylinders of the nuclear reactor breaks down. The problem is temporarily solved, but only by risking the entire crew to nuclear radiation. Can the submarine reach safety before it becomes a ghost ship or is discovered by the US crew? This is a story of courage in the face of disaster.

The actors/characters
Harrison Ford, who is also the executive producer, does a great job in the role of Alexei Vostrikov. Initially, I wasn't terribly impressed by his acting - he is tough and overpowering, never cracking a smile - and I didn't feel that he was being particularly stretched. This all changes later on in the film and we begin to see the real man beneath the mask - all his weakness come to the surface, but he deals with them and becomes a better person for it (and Ford gets a chance to show off his acting skills). There are a few occasions, especially at the beginning, when his Russian accent slipped, but on the whole, he managed to maintain it throughout the film.

Of the two main characters, I think Liam Neeson actually did a better job than Harrison Ford as Mikhail Polenin. This was a role of a man put under intense pressure when another officer was brought in above his head, but he dealt with it admirably, without ever letting his men down. Eventually, when disaster strikes, he continues to show his mettle, to the extent that he manages to win over Vastrikov. A strong performance from Neeson; I'm not very familiar with other work that he has done, but certainly look forward to seeing more of him.

Also worth a mention is Peter Sarsgaard, who put in a strong performance as Vadim, the wet behind the ears lieutenant, who graduated at the top of his class but has no active experience. He faces his responsibilities well, until put in a position where he faces being irradiated and goes to pieces. He later overcomes his fears and becomes a hero. This is an excellent performance from Sarsgaard, who is most recently in Jarhead.

Conclusion
This is a powerfully moving film; all the more so because it is based on a true occurrence, one that was hidden from the world for 28 years, during which all involved were sworn to secrecy. There is an awful lot of pushing knobs and twiddling controls, to be expected in a film of this type, but the acting makes up for this in spades and the storyline is very addictive - just as well, because it is over 2 hours long. There is, as you can probably guess from a film with the subtitle of The Widowmaker, no happy ending. But I finished the film with a sense of satisfaction, having watched something raw and real and therefore not having wasted my time. The music played throughout is worth a mention; it is classical and matches the tone of the film perfectly. Sadly, it didn't do as well in the box office and it deserved to. Highly recommended for both the story and the acting.

I watched the film on video, but the DVD is available from Amazon for £5.97.

Summary: Not a box office success, but a deeply moving film nevertheless.