A Combination of Raw Realism and Artistic Surrealism

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2011)

Most people know the atrocities if WWII. It has been the subject of books, art and films since it's inception in the social consciousness. Although the story has frequently become a history book recital, what Klimov has done with his film "Come and See" makes a supremely profound impact on its cinematic viewers and changes the robotic understanding of one of the most painful times in world history. It is important to note the significance of the title, which comes from the biblical passage of the Apocalypse of John. In it, the beast teases John to look at the destruction of the Four Horsemen by whispering "come and see." This is the first powerful hint at the deep meaning of the film. Come and see refers not only to this biblical passage, but to the obvious destruction that Hitler ravaged upon the rest of the world. Hitler here, seems like the beast, bellowing to the world to "come and see." It is this manifestation of darkness and destruction that Klimov displays, and the artistry that Klimov uses to do so makes the film the masterpiece that it is. Florya, the protagonist of the story starts off as a naive boy, searching for a gun in an abandoned field, his mind filled with the glorified thoughts of war. As the film progresses, Florya's physical body, and especially his mental state, ages years, and the illusion of valiant fighting are replaced with the reality of the raw "dirtiness" of destruction and war. Frequently uncomfortable to watch, this film engages all th senses, you see the darkness of the world, smell the raw sulfur and gun powder in the air, hear the uncomfortable buzzing of the flies in the rotten world...it is almost unbelievable. The viewer wants to cry out, to make it stop, to turn away, but you cannot. Klimov displays something so captivating that regardless of how uncomfortable the trip of movie is, you feel obligated to fight through it, because you know, immediately that the magic of the film lies within. Cinematically, the composition is stunning. The mere use of the close-up, which in many films is flippantly accepted, is used in this film as a true testament of the emotional impact of its content. When we see close-ups of Florya's face throughout the film, we see his age progression and the callouses that have developed on his soul. It is not a cinematic trick or the power of makeup; it is clear that the actors of this film have forever been changed and aged by portraying the despair of the Belorussian villages during WWII. This film is not just another story of WWII, but it is a story of the humanism, or lack thereof, that the world can harbor and humans can release.