Event

The Ascent

Shepitkos emotionally overwhelming final film won the Golden Bear at the 1977 Berlin Film Festival and has been hailed around the world as the finest Soviet film of its decade. Set during World War II's darkest days, The Ascent follows the path of two peasant soldiers, cut off from their troop, who trudge through the snowy backwoods of Belarus seeking refuge among villagers. Their harrowing trek leads them on a journey of betrayal, heroism, and ultimate transcendence.

"One of those movies Id use to prove my argument that Russians made the best World War II movies. This story of a couple of partisans trapped by German occupiers of a village is spiritually harrowing and visually stunning." - Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com

"It's pretty amazing how well put together this film is, in less than two hours Shepitko manages to tell a story so powerful and trascendental in its depiction of Soviet prisoners that it's almost hard to appreciate every aspect in a single view. Also this is where her husband Elem Klimov got the camerawork for Come and See." Francisco R, Mubi

"One of the most powerful war films ever,yet only concerning the harrowing ordeal of two soldiers. The scene with the Russian Nazi investigator and the captured Sotnikov is acting at its most brilliant. Amazing cinematography." Lorna Singh, Mubi