Drama,History,War
Belarus,Russia
Come and See is a 1985 Soviet war drama film directed by Elem Klimov, starring Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. The story is set in 1943, during the Nazi occupation of Byelorussia (now Belarus), and follows Florya, a young peasant boy who joins the Partisans to fight against the Germans.
The film is known for its raw and realistic portrayal of the atrocities of war, and its unflinching depiction of violence and suffering. It was based on the memoirs of Ales Adamovich, a Belarusian writer and war veteran, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Klimov.
The film begins with Florya, a 14-year-old boy, finding a rifle in a swamp and joining the Partisans in the forest. There he meets Glasha, a girl around his age who becomes his companion and confidante. They witness the horror of war firsthand, as they encounter death, destruction, and betrayal.
When Florya returns to his village, he discovers that his family and the other villagers have been massacred by the Germans. He becomes traumatized by the atrocities he has witnessed and struggles to come to terms with his loss. Despite his despair, he continues to fight with the Partisans, hoping to avenge his family and end the war.
The film's climax features a brutal and unforgettable sequence in which the Germans round up the remaining villagers and herd them into a barn, which they then set on fire. Florya, who has been captured and forced to witness the atrocity, screams in agony and horror as he watches the helpless villagers burn alive.
Come and See is a powerful and emotionally wrenching film that portrays the dehumanizing effects of war on both the individual and society. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of world cinema and a seminal work on the subject of war.
