HOSTILE WATERS

US/UK, 1997, 94 minutes, Colour.

Rutger Hauer, Martin Sheen, Colm Feore, Max von Sydow, Rob Campbell, Harris Yulin, Regina Taylor, John Rothman, Dominic Monaghan, Peter Guinness.

Directed by David Drury.

Hostile Waters is a submarine drama. It is one of the rather wide range of HBO movies from the 1990s and the 2000s.

There is an explanation that this story is based on actual events but that they were kept secret and so the screenplay is based on speculation and suggestions. One of the reasons is that the setting is the meeting in Iceland between President Gorbachev and President Reagan and the move towards the end of the Cold War. This episode might well have endangered these peace talks.

This is a story of nuclear submarine is, Americans and Russians both in the Atlantic Ocean. There is what seems a minor collision but it has strong repercussions for the Russians, putting the submarine offkilter, endangering the nuclear warheads and the possibilities of their being fired. Which means that the main part of the action is on the Russian submarine. The commander, skilled, intelligent, calm, is played by Rutger Hauer in a strong role. The Russian drama shows his assessment of the situation, fire breaking out, parts of the submarine separated, his strategy for putting the fire out, submerging but only slightly and then re—emerging, getting experts to go into the area with the nuclear warheads and turned down the pressure. This part is very suspenseful, especially with the young man going in, and the almost superhuman effort to Ward off the nuclear danger.

In the meantime, there is communication with Moscow, an Admiral played by Max von Sydow (anticipating his performance 20 years later in the submarine drama, Kursk). There are experts consulted, information conveyed, ultimate success, the return of the crew to Moscow, acclamation in public, but the commander suspended from duty (although comment was made some years later that the commander sued the filmmakers for an inaccurate depiction).

However, there is also the American action, with Martin Sheen in charge of the American submarine, puzzled about what is happening, more hawkish in his approach to destroy the submarine than his subordinate. And, this is echoed in Washington, Regina Taylor as research and information, Harris Yulin as a Naval authority, some strong hawks who would destroy the submarine instantly. However, there are the politicians who are urging caution because of the forthcoming peace talks.

There is admiration for the action of the Russian captain and the prevention of nuclear warfare.

There have been several submarine films, popular in the 1990s and to thousands, The Hunt for Red October, The Crimson Tide, K-9, The Widowmaker. However, this film anticipates the actual events with the submarine Kursk and the film version of that disaster.

1. Based on an actual incident? 1986? Secrecy? The story based on research?
2. The atmosphere of 1986, the meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev? Pestroika, détente? World peace? The end of the Cold War?
3. The situation with American and Soviet submarines, patrolling in the Atlantic, nuclear warheads? Potential dangers, accidents, nuclear strikes, radioactive airwaves? The statistics at the end and the number of nuclear submarines?
4. The focus on the Russians more than the Americans? The sympathetic Russian story, characters, crisis, and limiting the crisis? The contrast with the American submarine, the captain and his aggressive attitudes, members of the crew and advice, restraint? Washington, the military and observations, surveillance? Politicians, clashes between hawks and doves? Discussions, tactics, pressures? The Iceland meeting between the Presidents?
5. The Russian crew, the character of the captain, his presence, dealings with the men, with the KGB officer present? Advice to be more genial with him? The chief advisers, their talents and skills? The youngsters and their mucking around with the chef? Later called on for heroism?
6. The American crew, their presence, the captain, stern, observing, decisions, aggressive? The second in charge and his restraint? Observing, the tactics, making judgements? Watching the Russian tactics, disbelieving, their success, the long dive, the repercussions, explosions?
7. The Pentagon, details of observation, Lieutenant Curtis and her presence, skills? The meetings, the chiefs, their personalities, discussions, hawks and doves, aggression, diplomacy, secrecy? The aftermath?
8. Moscow, the admiral, following the accident and the decisions? Technical advice?
9. The crisis, the collision with the Americans, the fire, the danger for the nuclear warheads? Splitting of the submarine? The decisions of the captain, his calm? The possibilities with the warheads, strikes, nuclear waves, radioactivity? The decision to dive, advice from the experts in Moscow? The success of the tactic? The further danger with the warheads, limits of oxygen, the two going down, deaths, closing down the warheads? The captain talking with the young man, aged 20, his heroism, death after making so much effort?
10. The rescue, the return to Moscow, the plane, the KGB officer, collecting all the documents and the key? The parade on landing, the admiral, praising the men? Relieving the captain of his duties?
11. Small budget, tension, submarine stories at this era? And the soon-to-be experience of the Kursk?