Many movies can shock you, but do many shock you to the core? Have any struck you like lightning? Well, this confronting piece by Klimov certainly does. Academy Cinema’s showing was a rare opportunity to catch the powerful story in a theatre.
Come and See sheds light on the horrible acts committed by the Nazis in Byelorussia through the eyes of teenage Florya, a child soldier who gets thrown into hell on earth before the movie’s second act. The audience is given a truly terrifying tale of horror. There are many scenes of graphic and horrific acts that are rare to find in modern representations of war. Close-ups of characters staring directly at the camera are mixed with wide-shots of desolate landscapes, and all from the perspective of Florya’s innocence. The filmmaking technique is at an all-time high and some shots will burn into your permanent memory due to the composition and horrific imagery. It’s a hypnotising and often daunting experience, and the restoration done to its nearly 40-year-old framing is marvellous.
Come and See is a movie vital to watch and absorb all the way through, and is my personal favourite movie of all time.
A truly unforgettable tale of woe.
