This is War

Rating: 9/10 (10 February 2012)

Wow. This film was the best depiction of War I've seen so far, in no way at all did this film glamorize it, if anything it gave the audience the closest look into what a country under attack goes through. Unlike other war films Come and See really depicted the life's of ordinary civilians in the time of war. The small town of Russia were Flor was from resembled the country itself, it was micro-cosmic view of the point of view of the Russians during world war II. The director Elem Klimov did an amazing job in getting the audience involved with almost your five senses, we can practically smell old meat when the cow that Flor was trying to take to the group dies for example. The sound of the constant Nazi planes watching over haunted us as much as Flor. I was recently part of a house fire and the scene when the German officers terrorize the Russian city and burn the building with all the townspeople was unforgettable, it gave me chills to remember my own close experience with the fire but seeing it in this film took it to another level. A few minutes ago before the fire we got to see the inside full with people who had done nothing wrong. The flames were no CGI which made the scene that much more intense.
One of my favorite scenes was when Flor finally got to use his gun that he carried through out the film, poor kid he had started out so cheerful and full of joy to become a soldier but to his dismay war was nothing like he thought it'd be. Like we said in class, he started off looking 13 years and ended the film as a 40 year old. The reason I really loved that scene was because it had so many images and symbols in one scene, to me it really summarized WW II. Going back through time every important step that lead to Hitler in power was so powerfully showed, with Flor shooting many times at Hitlers picture at the same time. Much like life if one of those things had gone slightly wrong it would have made a world of a difference. But at the same time it made me think that even if it wasn't Adolfo Hitler, maybe it was have been someone else? If his mom would have had that abortion, and had another child what guarantees it wouldn't have been that other child to become the next "Htiler" the world is full of crazy lunatics, but it is our job as society to try and stop them. Going back through time with Flor in that scene really for me showed All the people that could have Stoped it before it happened!
I'm sad to know this film isn't as known as it should be and deserves to be! I'm glad to see all of us who commented really inspired us to write a review and share our thoughts about this incredible film.