The harsh staging of this film about World War II reflects its cruel true story

There are not many films that can keep up Elem Klimov1985 Masterpiece about the Second World War Come and see in the war or, frankly, horror genre. In fact, it is a film that defies any genre categorization. To call it a war film or a horror film does not adequately reflect how relentlessly the atrocities are portrayed or how The vision of director Elem Klimov is implemented uniquely and stylisticallyThis tone and originality is reflected in the production of the film itself, which explored the filmmakers’ deep personal bonds and pushed both the idea of ​​realism and the actors themselves to their absolute limits.

The film, which follows the journey of the young Belarusian Flyora (unforgettably played by Alexei Kravchenko), as he confronts the unrelenting violence of the Nazi invasion of Belarus, had a rough road to release. Extensive efforts to censor the film had plagued production for nearly a decade, but at the stage of writing, shooting and editing itself, The production of the film was psychologically exhausting, much like the end result itself.

Come and See (1985)

Come and See is a 1985 Soviet war drama film directed by Elem Klimov. The film follows a young Belarusian boy named Flyora as he witnesses and experiences the horrors of World War II. Through his eyes, viewers are confronted with the brutal reality of war and its devastating effects on humanity. The film is known for its graphic portrayal of violence and suffering and is considered a powerful statement against war.

Release date

3 September 1985

director

Elem Klimov

Duration

142 minutes

How “Come and See” was inspired by the filmmakers’ experiences

It is very obvious when you observe Come and see how personal this story is for the filmmakers, like many films based on the agony of World War II (like Steven Spielberg And Roman PolanskiViews on the Holocaust in Schindlers List And The pianist). In this case, Klimov supplemented his own memories of that time with the work of the co-author Ales Adamovichthe author of the book I come from the Fiery Village,that inspired the film. Klimov has clarified that the autobiographical aspects of his film stem from the emotions he felt growing up in the war atmosphere rather than from specific events themselves, and explains that he and his friends “felt human suffering” during this time, which clearly sets the tone Come and see.

However, it was the real experiences of Ales Adamovich that inspired the specific content of the film. Adamovich, who found himself in a similar situation to Flyora in the film (fighting the Nazis with the Belarusians), had seen atrocities like those depicted in the film. The collection of accounts from others with similar experiences that inspired Adamovich’s writing became the basis of the film, including some of its most devastating scenes, such as the mass murder in the church near the end of the film. The filmmakers’ personal connection is palpable when watching the film, every second of it dripping with the pain that Klimov and Adamovich witnessed and researched.

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What lead actor Alexei Kravchenko had to go through during production

One person whose life was irrevocably changed by the film was Aleksei Kravchenko, who plays the protagonist Flyora and whose face, marked by trauma and pain, is the most lasting and iconic image of the film. Kravchenko had never acted in a film before Come and seeand did not play again for another decade. Since the film was shot in chronological order, the transformation that the viewer experiences from enthusiastic youth to an almost inhuman misery in his expression is achieved by the strenuous work that filming such a grim story entailed. Attempts were even made to hypnotize Kravchenko to help him cope with the filming of some of the film’s more brutal moments.

Interestingly, in an interview about the film, which can be found on YouTube, Kravchenko describes parts of his experience, including how Klimov showed him horrific footage from the concentration camp, which set the tone for the story they wanted to tell. While Kravchenko states that by the end of filming (especially due to the harsher winter conditions) he wanted to “take this burden from his heart”, He also remembers how much he appreciated being treated like an adult on set, which would have encouraged his very mature performance. This context led to the central performance of Come and see is one of the most haunting in cinema history.

“Come and See” has made extreme efforts to achieve realism

The production has made a great effort to create the most realistic atmosphere possible so that the film has the intended devastating effect on the viewer. One of the steps is to the use of real balls during the shootouts, they are fired from guns, with live bullets occasionally flying not far from the actors. The decision to have many of the on-screen characters played by non-actors also helps to add an extra layer of sickening reality to the horror these people experience.

However, the use of realism in the film is more nuanced and leads to one of the most extraordinary and unique aspects of Come and see. Although the film takes great care to accurately depict these horrors in painful and often difficult to bear ways, it lapses into a kind of surrealism throughout. Certain scenes, such as one in which Flyora and his companion Gasha wade through a bog after discovering the aftermath of a brutal massacre, use unnatural sound effects to add an even greater level of unreality to the moment. Although less realistic in nature, the almost David Lynch-esque sound design adds an element of actual horror filmmaking to the story (as one might see in fictional horror films), something not seen in many other films based on a true story.

This serves several purposes. One of them is to convey the extent of the psychological damage these moments left on the real people involved. While it will never be possible to fully convey the impact these moments had on the victims of these atrocities, applying horror film techniques designed to create fear in a fictional context to a true story is a creative way to bring this level of terror to the viewer. In addition, it serves the purpose of conveying the film’s anti-war message. When asked why the film “moves from realism to surrealism,” Klimov described the film as “a passionate warning against war.” He implies that using cinematic techniques to convey the surreal brutality of these events can serve as a stronger message and hopefully help prevent similar situations in the future.

Ultimately, Come and seeThe unorthodox and sophisticated production reflects the finished film itself.. It presents the horrors of these war crimes with a realism that is difficult to stomach, but uses cinematic techniques not usually found in this genre to heighten their psychological impact. Klimov and Adamovich’s passion for telling this story the right way is clear to see and was implemented by all involved to truly one of the most amazing films of all time.

Come and see can be rented in the USA on Amazon Prime

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