Nathan Shatz

"Defying Demonization: An Analysis of K-19: The Widomaker"

It is no secret that modern American media demonizes the Russian nationality by depicting Russians as evil, heartless villains on screen. This phenomenon has a historical explanation; for more than a century, Russia has been perceived as a geopolitical threat to the West and an embodiment of ideals that contrast those valued in America. Of the many American films including a depiction of Russia, only a small minority portray Russian characters as positively as the 2002 film K-19: The Widowmaker. The film defies the trend of demonizing Russians in American popular culture by depicting its characters in an overwhelmingly positive light, suggesting that Americans and Russians share similar cultural values.

K-19: The Widowmaker portrays Russians positively by displaying them as possessing qualities romanticized by American culture, such as patriotism. At the start of the film, the Captain, named Vostrikov declares that it is an “honor” for these men to operate the newly constructed K-19 submarine and that it is an “honor” for him to be the boat’s captain because K-19 is the “finest submarine in the world.” Vostrikov’s speech is intended to evoke pride in the Soviet officers and to demonstrate the dominance of the Soviet navy. These cinematic elements contribute to the film’s favorable depiction of the Russian characters; despite the hardships endured by the K-19 crew, throughout their journey, they consistently appear to be motivated by their commitment to serving the Soviet Union. The theme of earnest loyalty, as opposed to the blind or forced loyalty that Soviet soldiers are often characterized by, embodies many of the core values held by Americans.

K-19: The Widowmaker depicts the crew as caring and humane people, encouraging viewers to sympathize with the Russians. Before embarking on their mission, crew members embrace their wives, girlfriends, and children on the other side of a fence, and much of the crew express their sadness at having to separate from their loved ones. To add to this effect, the film also includes the story of Radi, a character who frequently talks about his fiancee and his future, but ends up dying of radiation poisoning. Longing and love for family members is a universal feeling; Americans also feel longing and sadness when sending their loved ones off to war. By frequently alluding to familial love, the film draws sympathy from its audience.

The film also criticizes the demonization of Russia in American media by suggesting both America and Russia are responsible for causing the sustained political tension that defined the Cold War era. The film shows the soldiers’ reactions as they watch anti-American propaganda. The shocked and concerned faces of the crew as they watch the video suggest that they may truly believe, based on what they are being shown, that Russia is morally superior to the United States. Rather than assume the Russian justification for disliking the United States is due to evil intentions, this scene suggests that Russians are exposed only to a very biased idea of their “enemy,” and therefore justify their cause by assuming America violates certain morals that are worth fighting for.