Come and See

Come and See is a critically-acclaimed 1985 film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Elem Klimov. This Russian war drama stands as one of the most harrowing and cerebral accounts of the brutality and devastation that besieged Belarus during the World War II. The film stars charismatic actor Aleksey Kravchenko and the talented Olga Mironova, alongside Liubomiras Laucevicius.

Delving into the heart of the film, Come and See centers on its young protagonist, Flyora, portrayed by Aleksey Kravchenko. His spellbinding performance embodies the innocence, fear, and involuntary courage in face of war grotesque. His journey takes him from an excited and naive boyhood to a traumatized and devastated teenager. Striving for heroism and adventure, Flyora digs up a buried rifle, with an intention to join the partisan resistance within the Byelorussian SSR against the Nazi forces.

Joining hands with Glasha, played with convincing raw emotion by Olga Mironova, a young girl from his village, Flyora embarks on a path ridden with macabre reality, moving farther away from his preconceived notions and dreams of gallantry in war. Their journey tells a story of shocking truths, held back by the boundaries of human endurance.

The narrative of Come and See is distinguished by its pastoral symbolism, its austere style, and by its strikingly visceral portrayal of the war. It's a film where the lines between reality and hallucination often get blurred as we view the world through Flyora's disillusioned eyes. Through the perspective of a young boy, it pictures the human cost of war in its rawest form, as he witnesses the destruction of his home, his village, and life as he knew it.

Director Elem Klimov's use of surreal imagery and sounds that range from white noise to the German Stuka sirens, all significantly enhance the shocking realness and psychological climate of the narrative, making it a brutally honest portrayal of the Nazi occupation. Klimov ingeniously uses a documentary-style handheld camera work to bring an intimate and startlingly realist perspective to the whole narrative.

The artistic direction of the movie recreates the bleak and destroyed landscapes with an unsettling level of attention to detail and accuracy. The cinematography, with its relentless lingering shots, is soaked in intense realism, forcing the audience to experience the harrowing reality of war and its impact on human life.

The character developments, particularly of Flyora and Glasha, are profound and impactful, resulting from the tremendous performances by Aleksey Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. The fading innocence of their characters encapsulates the loss experienced by a whole generation due to an annihilating war.

Liubomiras Laucevicius, in a supporting role, also delivered a powerful performance. Different characters depict the varying layers of human response to such debilitating circumstances - Fear, disbelief, resistance, and alarming descent towards insanity.

The title, "Come and See," invites viewers to steer away from the comfort of ignorance and face the utter horror of war. Based on the screenplay by Elem Klimov and Ales Adamovich, the title itself is a reference to the Book of Revelation from The Bible, which talks of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In conclusion, Come and See is a powerful film that doesn't shy away from laying bare the grim realities of war. Be it a desolate scene of a ruined village or the deeply affected mind of a young boy, the movie effectively evokes a plethora of emotions in its audiences. With its haunting imagery and phenomenal performances, the film leaves an indelible mark on its viewers. It's a stark reckoning of humankind's capacity for violence, making it one of the most unforgettable war dramas in the world cinema.