The Admiral

Director: Andrei Kravchuk

Synopsis:

Admiral Vasilievich Kolchak, one of The Russian Imperial Navy’s most accomplished Naval Commanders is home on leave from taking the war to the German Navy in the Baltic sea (with, it has to be said nerves of absolute steel, and a mind like a razor.) when he is introduced to Annushka Vasilieva the beautiful young wife of his comrade and fellow officer Sergey Timerev, and falls instantly crushingly in love.

It is nineteen sixteen, the revolution begins and even in the midst of a war with Germany Russia is turned upside down as Bolsheviks purge society of the Aristocrats in horrific acts of mass murder. The revolt spreads quickly to the armed services and swiftly the Empire is polarised between the Bolsheviks and those forces loyal to the Empire.

Kolchak finds himself fighting the growing Bolshevik forces across what will soon become the Soviet Union. And all the while Annushka follows wherever the war takes him in the hope that they will eventually be together.



Review:

It’s freezing and foggy on the Baltic Sea. A flotilla of Minesweepers from the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Imperial Navy, run into the Freiderich Karl an absolutely massive Cruiser of the German Navy. Admiral Kolchak and his executive officer are called to the bridge.

The shells from the German’s guns come whistling over, and one of the most striking naval battles of recent cinematic history introduces this very intense film.

The battle is horrific, the shells rip steel and flesh in seconds. Men are consumed with flames and torn in half by ricochets.

And some truly unnerving moments stun the viewer with the raw courage displayed, men burned black calmly giving damage reports, half crippled gunners manning the guns, seated as they are unable to stand. And Kolchak, unperturbed by a German shell landing practically on top of him leads his ship to victory without seeming to ever doubt or fear.

The smoke from the German’s guns billows threateningly and very realistically, in fact everything about the ships and the battle convinces the eye. The CGI is skilfully rendered throughout the movie, and nothing cracks the illusion of living and dying on ship.

Back on land, the film’s pace does slow for a while as the romantic aspect of the story is introduced and explored and we see another side to Kolchak’s character, the husband and father, the emotionally led romantic, the humorous Mess Lounge joker. All parts of the same man who led a battle from the foregun of an outgunned ship.

The battles are not that frequent in the first part of the movie. A lot of time is spent following the infatuation between Kolchak and Anna, and the effect it has on all those around them. Konstantin Khabensky’s performance is a study in resolution. He portrays a supremely confident unswervable man very well by projecting a stillness whilst everyone else goes frantic.

Elisabeta Boyarskaya matches him as the determined adventurer Anna, who lives her desires whatever the outcome, playing her with a sensuality and zeal which make it uncomfortable to watch her.

Both actors are supported by a more than competent supporting cast. In the genteel well mannered world of the Russian upper classes Kolchak and Anna’s behaviour would be bound to cause upset and scandal, but then the revolution brings war within war to Russia, and the manners and rules seem to fade into the background compared to beliefs and loyalties.

Against the backdrop of mayhem, suspicion, and mass murder, country men becoming sworn enemies in the fight for how Russia would be ruled, who one was in love with becomes a minor detail indeed.

The backdrop of early 20th century Russia is elaborately brought to life, the wardrobe, hair and makeup are exquisite, the Naval Staff Uniforms and Ladies gowns often look like a photograph brought to life. The locations are epic and grand, or in the case of various hospital sheds or prisons, squalid and bleak.

The subtitling (on the English Version) is poetically composed and reflects the eloquence of a sophisticated script from writers Vladimir Valutsky and Zoia Kudri..

Verdict:

The action is astonishing. The Characters are complex and very watchable, if perhaps not exactly likeable. And the narrative is interesting, the more so for knowing it’s true (although adapted a wee bit for dramatic reasons obviously.)

Do not watch if you are hoping for some sort of Russian Pearl Harbour, there is action yes, but this film is attempting much more than that, and in my opinion delivers.

8 out of 10 (Sulaco)