Come and See (1985)

Wow! Such a good movie.

In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

If there were ever a film that could be called the ultimate anti-war film which shows the horrors of war and the dehumanization of its main characters in such a disturbing way that it will leave an absolutely depressing impact on you it is definitely Elem Klimov's Come and See. Most of the time we see this film from Florya's point of view ( A teenage boy ) to show us truly how the war impacts those that were full of innocence before it started. The first half hour or more of the film consists of setting up his character, his connection with his family and with the young woman Glasha later on. It is a bit of the odd man out in the film as while still being depicted as grim it is not a very disturbing or depressing start. However, when the first bombs fall, you are immediately into this highly powerful and immersive masterpiece, because of things such as letting us hear the temporary deafening situation of our main character by letting us hear it with the audio, and deafening out all other sounds so we truly also begin to feel it as if it were happening to the audience. Also noticeable is the frequent use of extended trackingshots shot with a steadicam which are ofcourse always a great addition to improve immersion because in a long continuous take we can see everything our characters are doing, and are not subjected to constant different angles which always take a couple of seconds ( or less, but still, it takes time ) to keep that immersion.The acting is of top notch quality the entire movie, and especially the teenage main character Florya played by Aleksey Kravchenko is exceptional with his desperate facial expressions and his increasing dehumanization throughout the film. The violence is so powerful in this film because anything bad could happen to our main character at any time and primarily because Klimov allows us to see the incredibly disturbing facial expressions of Florya in silence after such an event numerous times, so we can truly reflect on how terrible these events were, and to show how further down the path to madness he was getting. The soundtrack is haunting and eerie ever since the first bombs fall in the film, and all this makes gives it a kind of horror esque feeling which doesn't happen all that often in war films. Platoon is often called a great anti-war statement, but Platoon has lighthearted scenes with some witty dialogue, whereas when the violence starts in Come and See, it is basically one ride akin to peering into the depths of hell itself.I would say the later chapter of the film is a bit too focused on trying too hard to let us hate the Germans while creating a bit of a lack of characterization, yet the entire village burning scene is so emotionally draining to the extreme, edited so well and filmed with such grace that this doesn't truly matter to the overall quality of the film. The visuals also speak for themselves, with one hellish picture after another when the violence starts bursting out, and this is enhanced by the incredible use of sound and sound editing to create a narrative in itself. However, this doesn't mean that the film doesn't have a narrative, as this is established so well in the first half hour or forty five minutes of the film.This all sums up Come and See as one of the most powerful of all war films, due to its ability to show violence as such an inhumane action due to its incredible visuals, sound, facial expressions & acting. It is highly disturbing and it is not for the faint hearted, as its depressing nature and soundtrack and realistic portrayal of the brutality of war result in a terrifying experience, yet it is also one of the few war films that is able to truly move you with its honesty and brutality.

5/18/18. Probably one of the most graphic anit-war film you will ever watch. Though brutal all the way through, and if you can stomach the atrocities, this film will make you rethink the reason why we must pray for peace all the time so men won't have the opportunity to act out the cruelty shown in this movie. As seen through the eyes of a 13 year-old, it is unbearable to watch what he had to go through and they commit unmentionable acts of genocide. The end sequence in which he tries to turn back the hands of history is as surreal as the atrocities he had to witness and incredibly live through. According to Roger Ebert, the experiences of the co-writer of the script, Ales Adamovich was used to inform the film. Worth watching, but it will be rough if you have a heart. And, you will never look at a cow the same way after seeing this movie.

The film is "old" and I am pretty sure I had not seen it in my youth, but for a change - and based on good ratings here - I decided to find necessary 2+ hours... And obtained mixed feelings.True, it is rather atypical Soviet film about war, reflective and running its course, without constant shootings and explosions, with religious elements. The leading character/performance is great, often "too much" - in a sense that all other characters are too minor and supporting, less than e.g. Belarusian nature which wildness and emptiness provide additional value (btw, periphery villages in Belarus look almost the same as in the film, with minor technical accessories visible). On the other hand, one should bear in mind that this film was made before perestroika. thus all atrocities in the WW II were committed by Nazis only - so the Soviet people were told and that we see in the film. There is nothing about Soviet partisans stealing and plundering, confiscating properties, killing countrymen for living further in occupied territories, etc. Thus, in reality, Idi i smotri provides rather lopsided picture what was going on in those turbulent times and can be regarded a great work in terms of visual only.

If you think A monkey throwing paint at a blank canvas is art of the highest order, you will adore this movie. If however, you have higher standards (assuming you have objective standards) you will be absolutely frustrated with this movie which drags on and on and on. In an unintentional way, this film is very fitting of the Soviet, 1984ish genre. It feels like it was made by a Soviet Politburo's child shooting his first movie. Where everyone knows it stinks, but must nonetheless stand up and cheer for its greatness for fear of being sent to the gulag. This movie is a complete waste of time.