Baltic Storm
Baltic Storm
| 01 September 2003 (USA)
Baltic Storm Trailers

A journalist from Berlin, Germany, and a Swedish lawyer discover the truth behind the sinking of the "MS Estonia" in 1994, where more than 850 people drowned.

Reviews
Maidgethma Wonderfully offbeat film!
Skunkyrate Gripping story with well-crafted characters
Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
Catharina_Sweden I watched the first half of this, but could not go on. It was too bad. The only thing that was interesting in it, were the real (actual) news clips from the time. And you can watch those on the internet if you like.EVERYTHING was bad. The script, the acting (several of the main actors were clumsy and amateurish), and the idea in itself of making a disaster movie without a substantial budget and modern technical effects. I am not saying that a disaster movie with expensive technical effects necessarily has to be a good movie, but the opposite is simply not possible. It felt like filmed theatre more than a movie, but when you are watching a play you are "in it" - I mean you realize that your imagination must fill in what is not possible to realize on a scene. From a movie you expect much more.But the worst of it was of course, that a movie like this is offensive against the families and friends of the disaster victims. One can make movies about the Titanic, but to make a movie about a disaster that happened only nine years ago (I mean when the movie was released), when memories are still fresh and almost all the grieving people are still alive, is only disgraceful.About the spy story, I am quite sure that there is nothing in it. It has been proved that the catastrophe was caused by bad upkeep of the Estline fleet, and a lack of routines for regular overhaul. Trying to find a more "exciting" explanation is only silly and immature, and can only cause more distress for everybody.This movie left a bad taste in my mouth.
sscielzo I have to admit, I picked this movie just for the cast, and while Sutherland, Scacchi, and Prochnow were - as usual - great performers, the rest of the movie was such a let down. It feels like it was put together by a team of adolescents with low level scripts, that is, scripts lacking any depth, awful photography and editing, and hilariously lousy score! I can't believe I was able to watch this seemingly long movie until the end... the sad thing is, this could have actually been a great political thriller given the interesting plot. All the potential was there to make it a hit; that is, two main ingredients are there: a great story of national conspiracies, and a great core cast (even though many other actors are pretty much soap opera quality). But maybe I'm missing something; until then it's still not worth more than a 3 in my opinion.
fiji3003 I noticed another reviewer saw this movie in Germany. So did I. I was on vacation and was interested in checking out what was playing in English. Therefore, I had no expectations walking into "Baltic Storm". (I had never heard of the true life tragedy.) But the names (particularly Donald Sutherland's) made it intriguing. So was the movie. It gripped me from the very beginning, as it set the stage for what was to come: two hours of tension mixed with heartbreak as two ordinary people (Greta Scacchi and Jurgen Prochnow) doggedly searched for the truth amidst of world that lies as a matter of course. Even if it's for the so-called 'greater good'. Even if it means that almost a thousand people had to die. Everyone interested in what's really going on in the world should see this movie.
rockstrrr Baltic Storm tells the story of a courageous journalist out to find the truth about a multi-government cover-up. It is a great movie with a tightly-paced script and direction. It poses the question, ever more pertinent given today's politics, what do our governments cover up in the name of protecting the world's balance of power? What information is too sensitive to be public, and to whom is the truth owed? The filmmakers did an excellent job of making powerful arguments for both the protagonists and the villains. You couldn't help but feel for the Russian operative trying to provide for his grandson, and his argument about protecting Russia's patrimony was moving. It is rare that a film can truly help you to understand the mindset of someone responsible for something as abhorrent as the sinking of the Estonia. And Donald Sutherland and Jurgen Prochnow turned in fantastic performances.