Come and See (1985) - A Soviet War Drama Worth Coming Over To See | Intricate Films

Tragedy, heartbreak and misery. Often times, it is very hard to convey these emotions through a film in their purest essence. Since we're talking about war films, you may argue that it is not necessarily so, citing an example, like Roman Polanski's masterpiece, 'The Pianist' from 2002. Sure, that was an excellent work of art, but that is the problem. It's just a work of art. Allow me to explain.

'Come and See' is not a work of art. A work of art is an expression of emotions by the artist. But there is no such thing like that here. Then what is here?, you ask? The truth. The harsh truth. The harsh reality is what is here. 'Come and See' does not feel like any other movie when you watch it. It feels like a documentary. And almost a live one, at that.

What I really like is that this brutal honesty goes all the way from the name of the film till it's release poster. But how is the movie itself like? We'll get to that in a minute. But coming back to the title, it's a surprise waiting for us. It's a trapdoor banging shut the moment we are in, to expose some realities about our history as humans.

Have you ever lost something you loved? Truly loved? Have you ever lost someone you truly loved? Or worse, everyone you truly loved? Close your eyes and imagine that happening now. It's hard, isn't it? Feel that sensation in your heart. That same feeling is what accompanies you throughout the entire tragic film.

Flyora is the name. It is the name of a boy from a village in the Byelorussian Republic, The Soviet Union. His village and his country are dear to him. So dear to him that he would go on to fight for it all by joining the Soviet Partisan forces. After all, it's his home. It's where he belongs. How would he ever let the Germans under Adolf Hitler take what was his?

'Come and See' is in many ways, almost a coming of age story. But not in a way you would expect. It is a boy being hardened. It is a boy who witnesses a thousand deaths of his own people. A boy who feels the agony. A boy being exposed to some of the worst that life could offer.

All of this is evident in the eyes of young Flyora. I believe it's one of the highlights of the film. Aleksei Kravchenko deserves our respect for the performance he gave. It is rare to see such raw, extreme emotions just plastered onto a face, let alone, that of a young boy in a film.

Hatred and rage are the most evident in the last scene of the film. Flyora shoots a portrait of Hitler in a puddle, marred by the footsteps of the tormentors. Every time Flyora pulls the trigger, a montage of clips of Hitler's life play in reverse. Flyora's face gets more and more demonic as he pulls the trigger. But he abruptly stops the moment Hitler's picture as a baby is shown. He leaves the place immediately to join the Partisans on their way.

This is a sign of hope. It is the sign that Flyora is still human at heart. The beast within hasn't quite been irked entirely. Him joining the Partisans again who march their way like a battle ram is a sign that they haven't lost the struggle yet.

But there is something more to this film than the stark details. It's not just about Flyora's journey, neither about the adorable Glasha with whom he bonds with, earlier in the story. This entire movie is an experience. As Al Pacino said in 'Scent of a Woman', "Some people live a lifetime in a minute", 'Come and See' makes us experience all of the horrors of the war in its entire duration. 'Come and See' exposes us to the lifetime of a young boy who has seen and experienced more pain, misery and suffering than many of us can even imagine going through.

All of these are the traits which I feel make 'Come and See' such an endearing classic. This film is an experience which I believe everyone must go through.

For all the reasons mentioned, I give 'Come and See (1985)', 9.5 out of 10 on the Intricate Meter. The only flaw which I noticed that made me not give it a full 10 was the somewhat detached feel which ensued in some parts of the film. But I would put it down to the low budget docunentary style  
of production. In every other way, this film accomplished what it set out to achieve, and then some.

And thus, 'Come and See (1985)' has deservedly won a spot on The Intricate Wall of Fame. 

 Thank you, Mr. Elem Klimov. You have created a legend worth being appreciated forever, as a snapshot of one of the dark pasts of humanity.
                                                   - Abhyjith Ashokan

Intricate Meter - 9.5/10

The Important Characters And Their Casts :

* Aleksei Kravchenko as Flyora, a young boy from a Byelorussian village who is the protagonist of the story. He takes us on his journey of all the sufferings of war.

* Olga Mironova as Glasha, a young girl who bonds with Flyora when he is left all alone to stay back and guard the Partisan camp. Soon after, they both escape a German bombing and go back to Flyora's village only to make a grim discovery.

* Liubomiras Laucevicius as Kosach, the Commander of the Soviet Partisan forces which Flyora joins.

* Vladas Bagdonas as Roubej, a Partisan fighter who accompanies Flyora in search of food, but succumbs to his injuries when they get ambushed from afar by the Germans with their guns.

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                                                           - Abhyjith and Arvind