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"Come and See" is a Russian film that was released in 1985. It is a horror war movie that is set in Byelorussia during WWII. The Germans are occupying this area of the Soviet Union and partisans are fighting back. The protagonist is a teenage boy named Florya who joins a partisan unit against the wishes of his mother. He developes a relationship with a girl named Glasha and they return to his village to find it a ghost town. The survivors have taken refuge on an island which Florya and Glasha have to wade through a bog to get to in one of the slimiest scenes in movie history.
Florya leaves to find food with three of the villagers. His adventure includes carrying around a German dummy for no apparent reason and the stealing of a cow. He ends up in another village which becomes the target of an Einsatzgruppen. The Nazis round up the villagers and herd them into the church. What happens next is horrific, including the reaction of the Germans to their handiwork. The scene bears comparison to some of the scenes in "Schindler's List". This part of the film is replete with eerie music, haunting images, and the use of speeded up film adds to the bizarre nature.
Florya, having escaped the mayhem, wanders into the aftermath of the partisans' ambush of the Germans. Several Germans have been taken captive, including their commander. He pleads innocence, but one of the Nazis brazenly states that the Russians are inferior and will be exterminated. The "trial" has a predicatable verdict, but the punishment does not ring true. Florya notices a portrait of Hitler which he proceeds to shoot as footage of Hitler's life unwind in reverse order culminating with the baby Adolf. This is really cool.
This is a highly regarded film, but I found it pretentiously bizarre (some type of heron pokes around as Florya and Glasha cavort in the woods) until the attack on the village when it really takes off. There are lots of close-ups and facial expressions do the talking. The rookie actor portraying Florya overacts a bit, but he is very memorable. Glasha is also an interesting character and it would have been nice to have found out what happens to her.
The movie can be compared to "Apocalypse Now" because parts seemed to be filmed under the influence of LSD. It is definitely not in a league with Coppola's film, however.
By the way, did you know the Nazis were evil? Did you realize that war corrupts children? Were you aware that war is hell on civilians?
Read it, but skip to the Einsatzgruppen scene.
GRADE = C
You absolutely need to take into consideration the film-historical context. You could compare it with movies of Tarkowski. (I believe his Andrej Rubljow is on your list.) This cinema does always transcend the stories and goes far beyond. And you don't mention that it's actual source is the massacre of Katyn (like the new Polish movie Katyn that I reviewed.
ReplyDeleteHow is this about Katyn? That was the massacre of Polish officers. This is set in Byelorussia.
ReplyDeleteI understand the historical context of the Nazi destruction of Byelorussian villages. I was mesmerized by the second half of the movie which dealt with that. My main criticism is with the ridiculous elements thrown in by a director which seem to shout - "hey, look at what an auteur I am".
I definitely recommend it, but feel my readers who are not into being drenched by surrealism and symbolism should know that this is a different type of war movie. I am open to different styles, but don't swallow art for art's sake.
Maybe I am getting a bit emotional here. When I was younger Tarkowski and Visconti were my favourite film directors. And James Ivory. Later I preferred David Lynch and Darren Aronofsky. And Jane Campion and Ridley Scott. I just think it is fair to let you know this, and your readers, as I am commenting often and so everybody knows where I am coming from.
ReplyDeleteAbout Katyn, apparently it was source for 'inspiration' but he couldn't really depict it as they were not allowed to talk bout it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khatyn_massacre
ReplyDeleteNot to be confused with
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre
A lot of people DON'T actually realize how evil the Nazis were. They know the Nazis did the Holocaust, but many know nothing about the massacres in the East because of the Clean Wehrmacht myth where people think that the regular German army weren't evil, that it was all the SS.
ReplyDelete