Baltic Storm

Baltic Storm is a 2003 film written and directed by Reuben Leder about the 1994 MS Estonia disaster. Based on the book Die Estonia: Tragödie eines Schiffsuntergangs by German journalist Jutta Rabe, the film focuses on the supposed transport of defense materials by the Swedish Armed Forces, and alleged cover-up of the true cause of the disaster.

Baltic Storm
DVD cover
Directed byReuben Leder
Produced by
Written byReuben Leder
Starring
Music byMauri Sumén
Cinematography
  • Nicolas Joray
  • Robert Nordström
Edited byAlan Strachan
Release date
  • 16 October 2003 (2003-10-16)
Running time
110 minutes
Country
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The plot portrays the Swedish government as being responsible for using the ship to covertly transport Russian high-tech components to the United States. The story is uncovered by a young female journalist, not unlike Rabe herself. According to Rabe, divers hired by the Swedish government (signing contracts swearing lifetime secrecy) spent hours breaking into cabins frantically searching for a black attaché case carried by a Russian space technology dealer, Aleksandr Voronin (who died 2002). She highlighted US interest in various Soviet technology, including nuclear-powered satellites. She also suggested that panic about the stability of some form of nuclear device is the most likely reason behind the initial Swedish government suggestion of burying the wreck in concrete, a highly unusual proposal for a wreck, reminiscent of Chernobyl's sarcophagus.

Cast
  • Greta Scacchi stars as Julia Reuter, a young female journalist who examines the story of MS Estonia.
  • Jürgen Prochnow as Erik Westermark, a passenger who survives the sinking and later helps Reuter to uncover the facts.
  • Rein Oja as captain Arvo Kallas (based on captain Avo Piht), who survives the disaster and is later kidnapped by US Army.
  • Donald Sutherland as Lou Aldryn, an American official who deals with transport of defense materials and cover-up.
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