1-World Festival of Foreign Films
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"Come and See"
1986
Directed by Elem Klimov

The film, set in 1943 depicts the German invasion of ByeloRussia and follows the story of a young child and failed partisan, Florya, and the effects the war have on him. Reminiscent of Dante's Inferno, one sees what starts off as a child turn into a shell, a shadow of his former self. He sees first, his village and family wiped out and then a nearby town being ethnically cleansed.
Klimov was famous for his historical fact-based films, breaking barriers by being the first Russian film-maker ever to feature Rasputin and duly landing himself in deep water. However what perhaps does not become apparent until the end of the film was this was an ethnic cleansing on a huge scale with many entire towns and village simply being torched because the cryogenically obsessed Nazis felt they were of "inferior stock."
142 minutes.
 

Guest Comments

From:  "Jeff"

"Absolutely the most powerful anti-war, anti-genocide film I have seen. It is harrowing yet lyrical. Any student of film or history should see this film."

From: "Juliette Crooks"

"Klimov's 'Come and See' is quite simply the most powerful antiwar film ever made. What is stunning about this film is a formidable combination of exquisite camerawork, the most innovative and intelligent use of sound (which transcends the notion of simple spectator/viewer as it audibly engages its audience), attention to detail (insightful and sometimes bizarrely comic) and above all a sensitivity and understanding which crosses all linguistic and national barriers. Flor is not unique - he is any one of us passing from youthful fantasy into realisation of the horror that is the adult reality of War. Makes Private Ryan look like Donald Duck, and Apocalypse Now look like Dangermouse at best...Come and see."

From:  "Karl Wedin"

"This is one of the best films ever made, and definitly the best war film."