1185. Come and See

Come and See

1985
Directed by Elem Klimov

Just when I think we are finished with the wartime atrocity films, another one crops up. I keep going back on forth on whether it's important to watch these movies, or if you should just protect your mental health and abstain from experiencing such disturbing images. If you have any thoughts about the issue, let me know in the comments!

In 1943, Flyora and his friend dig in trenches, looking for abandoned rifles. They plan to join the Soviet partisan forces to fight the Germans. The following day, Flyora is drafted by the Soviets and he becomes a low ranking militiaman. One day, Flyora is ordered to remain behind at camp while the rest of the troops move out. As he weeps, he meets a girl in a forest who is working as a nurse. Their camp is attacked, and bad things continue to happen.

I suppose this film is effective in what it set out to do, which is to shock its audience and disturb the living daylights out of us. It's truthful to what war is, so naturally I wished I hadn't watched it. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody I care about.

Not going to lie, I closed my eyes for some parts. Hey, after this last year, I do what I have to. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Live ammunition was used in the film.

Filmed in chronological order.

Final film of Elem Klimov. Apparently, he was so stressed about the movie's subject matter that his hair turned grey during filming.

723. Come and See

Come and See
1985
Directed by Elem Klimov

Recently I watched The Killing Fields for this List and although it was heartbreaking, I felt it was necessary to see.  Similarly, this movie also depicts the horrors of war.  However, I really wish I hadn't watched this and I would advise people to avoid it.

During World War II, a  Belarusian boy named Flyora longs to join the Soviet forces.  He ends up getting his wish, but he soon realizes that there is nothing adventurous or glamorous about wartime atrocities.  He seems to bounce from horrific tragedy to horrific tragedy (which includes rape because it wouldn't be a 1001 movie without it) and we bounce along with him.

I feel really sorry for the child actor in this; the director should have paid for a lifetime of therapy sessions for him after filming this movie (in fact, he should probably pay for mine too).  This was just tragedy upon tragedy and I am not entirely convinced it was done to educate and inform.  I am not sure how many incidents in this movie happened in real life, but the violence ended up feeling very gratuitous.

An undeniably powerful film, but one I could have happily gone without seeing.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

The original title was "Kill Hitler" but it was changed because it was deemed inappropriate.  I can't imagine people having a problem with it now.