Film Review: Come and See

Director: Elem Klimov

A 1985 Russian film which was made to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of World War 2. In the world of cinema there has been literally hundreds of films around the second world war, I'd venture to say that no other topic has received so much attention from Hollywood et al but the Eastern front has been far the most overlooked. But with it being nearly 30 years since Come and See was released I doubt anybody could produce a more shocking and vivid account of the harsh realities of the cold Eastern front for the partisans in Belarus.

In 1943, Flyora finds an SVT-40 rifle buried near his home in Belarus and the next day is taken by the local partisans to fight in the resistance against the Nazi's. At this point the Russian army has fled leaving his town behind so the locals form militia to try and halt the advance of the fascists. During this time Flyora sees the full effects that war can have on civilians as well as the mental state of all involved as the atrocities continue unabated.

Elem Klimov produces an incredibly stark and raw film based on a book called I am from the Burning village. The film builds up slowly as Flyora spends time with the partisans preparing for the Nazi army but produces an incredible second half which pitches the very worst that humanity can do to each other. Upon its release there were reports that the film was too shocking for viewers with people fainting or walking out. Whilst in a Q&A with the director at the time an elderly German stood up and said: "I was a soldier of the Wehrmacht; moreover, an officer of the Wehrmacht. I traveled through all of Poland and Belarus, finally reaching Ukraine. I will testify: everything that is told in this film is the truth. And the most frightening and shameful thing for me is that this film will be seen by my children and grandchildren."

Flyora (Aleksei Kravchenko) in the hands of the Nazi's

There were rumours after the films release that actor Aleksei Kravchenko was hypnotised to add to his shell shocked look throughout the film. Despite his young age he turns in a truly amazing lead performance as his mind is slowly eroded by the atrocities all around him. The use of the steadicam adds to the amateurish yet realistic type of footage as we see Flyora travel the Belarussian countryside during the war. Klimov didnt make any more movies after this film was released and stated before his death that any more films in him, if this is his legacy then its truly incredible.

3.5/4 Truly stunning war epic which ranks as highly as any other