Kalistan

[Doc]

Republican Pictures releases Artanian War Movie
"Cold Running" is most profitable picture of the year
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
December 14, 5661


"Cold Running" featuring Keith Mendoza (left) is a war drama set during the Artanian Campaign

The Artanian War film "Cold Runnings" topped box offices totals this week as audiences flocked to see the story of a crew sent to retrieve a code cypher from a Kundrati Submarine. The movie, produced at Republican Studios, is one of the first Kalistani movies set during the Artanian Campaign during 5611. The film tells the story of a crew of special naval forces that must board a Kundrati submarine ahead of the conflict to acquire code cyphers and crypto equipment to help them interpret Kundrati code.

"The movie is, strictly speaking, fictional," said star Keith Mendoza, who plays the role of Marine Colonel Robert Kildare, the leader of the mission. "But it is a composite of the special work done by both Militia and Special Forces. This kind of stuff happened in the weeks and months ahead of the war, and though the campaign was largely viewed as a defeat in Kalistan, there were many stories of the bravery of Kalistani regulars that could not be told at the time."

The composite is resolved at the end with a list of 16 separate operations with similar aims to acquire an edge in the run up to war. The first listed was as early as 5609, and the last was two weeks before the outbreak of the war. The movie also stated that more than 25 regular sailors were lost during the period directly before open conflict broke out, while 15 enemy ships were either sunk or scuttled.

"Though Kalistan lost the 4th Fleet, without the intelligence gathered ahead of the war, it would have been a lot worse. The loss of that life ahead of the main battles saved a lot of Kalistani lives." Col. Kildare was based on three different militia members who enlisted with the Special forces ahead of the war, all of whom died during their missions, though their missions succeeded. "A lot of the action in this film takes place aboard a Kundrati Submarine," said Mendoza. "Many of those missions did too, and it was really the only way Kalistanis could get in and out and possibly acquire the things we needed." Mendoza said that each mission was only able to ever collect a part of what the Kalistanis needed at any one time. "It was really like a puzzle for our Intel service. We could have used more, but the war broke out before Kalistan got everything it needed."

The film, which cost more than ₭18 million Imperial to make, grossed over ₭45 million Imperial for the film company in its first two weeks, making it one of the highest grossing films for the studio in years, and the top movie of 5661. "I think the movie resonates so well with audiences, because these events were fifty years ago, and a lot of that generation which actually fought in the war is finally beginning to die. Most of the people who are coming to see the movie have only heard stories about the war from their grandparents. So this movie kind of brings it the sacrifice and the heroism of the conflict to life for them for the first time."

Mendoza said his grandfather fought in the war and died just before he was offered the role. "I dedicated my performance to my grandfather," said the actor. "I hope I did him and his comrades justice."

@LaModa