I admire the effort of trying to reach out to the rest of the world with this tragic story. However, the movie is done SO BADLY that most people I know couldn't sit through it. The movie was relevant to me since I lived in Estonia when these events took place, but it is written horribly and fails to capture the attention of someone who knows nothing on the matter. The music choices do not flow well with the movie, it seems as if someone just turned a CD player on in the background to put the actors "in the mood". The acting... well, what acting? The only people acting are Jürgen Prochnow and Donald Sutherland, even though Prochnow seems uncomfortable in this role. As far as the relationship development goes between Erik Westermark (Jürgen Prochnow) and Julia Reuter (Greta Scacchi), it is like watching a train wreck. There is absolutely no chemistry and it is painful to witness their "sincere moments." This is not a good movie. There is a difference between trying to get a message out (could've been a documentary!) and trying to make a good movie. This is a failure and anyone here who says otherwise makes me wonder if they are trying to promote it. As a matter of fact, as a native of Estonia I am offended by this miserable effort. This tragedy deserves more than just a homemade low-budget ghost chase excuse of a movie. This could have been much more!

Just take a look at Tibor Taylor's performance... He is to be the star of the century!!! Watch out!!! What a guy!!! The industry needs nothing or nobody else but him, I'm more convinced of that than I'm convinced of anything else in this world... He is a real, I mean REAL star potential!!! I can't make that more clear... I have never been more convinced by any actor! This film if it's just for the sake of Tibor, should be the major sensation!!! I stand for it to full extent... Can't you see the genius??? Come on! I was fully taken! Can't wait to see him in more major productions... I'm sure it's bound to happen though, as I can't imagine anyone overlooking this major star that Tibor Taylor is... You, PRODUCERS do the world the favor and show some real genius to us! YOU will be doing lots of good to the world and surely to your own wallets! He is rocking and he will rock forever! GO ON!!!!

"Baltic Storm" dramatizes and brings to the fore the 'why's and wherefores' behind a little known tragedy -- the sinking of the ferryboat 'Estonia' on the Baltic Sea in 1994, a disaster in which 852 people lost their lives. The framing device -- a reporter's search for the truth, along with a survivor father's search for his missing son, presumed drowned -- allows the viewer to understand the geo-political implications that transcends what appears to be a natural tragedy. As Scacchi and Prochnow (both never better) investigate, the answers they glean only bring up more questions which continue to resonate way beyond the particulars of this tragedy. The gloomy light of the Baltic Sea in winter enhances the tension and poignancy of the story. Well acted, (especially the turn by Donald Sutherland as a mysterious 'facilitator'), as well as written and directed, the film is quite moving. Ultimately, it should be judged on its cinematic merits -- not on personalities or differences in the conclusions the film suggests. To view it any other way, only disrespects the memories of the victims.

The sinking of the ferry Estonia in the Baltic Sea in 1994 was traumatic for the whole of Scandinavia: over 800 dead but through their relations and connections with friends so so many more suffered emotionally. The official report was never satisfying, especially the failure of security system for the bows and the suspicions of a cover-up from events unexplained and the decision not to bring Estonia up from the seabed. The film Baltic Sea is a serious valid alternative to the report. Secret service relations between Sweden and Estonia, with miserable consequences, are now well known, so is also the smuggling of WMD from the former USSR to the West, and the US and NATO's roles in trying to contain it, and so is also Sweden's "secret" ties with Nato and the US military. The acting out of these forces is very gripping, probably more so for non-Scandinavians who are less emotionally involved.