The Ascent, Russian, 1977, from Netflix.
A film about partisans in German occupied Belurus. Supurb acting and photography in black and white which makes it all the more stark. All is overcast with knee deep snow. A group of partisan fighters with some of their families take refuge in the woods from a German "punishment squad". They have a long way to go with no food and two men are sent forward to get food. On their way back the two get captured and their troubles really begin. It gets tense and ugly. Before it is over you will be asking yourself, "What would I have done?" One of the reviewers at Netflix I think pretty much hit the nail on the head when she wrote, "More stunning proof that hell is cold. This movie explores the line between self-preservation and self-sacrifice. More stunning proof that Russians have had some HARD times."
I think I've seen all the Russian war films at Netflix, maybe a dozen. In none of them are German soldiers presented as anything except murdering beasts who enjoy their jobs.
Highly recommended.
Jimski
A film about partisans in German occupied Belurus. Supurb acting and photography in black and white which makes it all the more stark. All is overcast with knee deep snow. A group of partisan fighters with some of their families take refuge in the woods from a German "punishment squad". They have a long way to go with no food and two men are sent forward to get food. On their way back the two get captured and their troubles really begin. It gets tense and ugly. Before it is over you will be asking yourself, "What would I have done?" One of the reviewers at Netflix I think pretty much hit the nail on the head when she wrote, "More stunning proof that hell is cold. This movie explores the line between self-preservation and self-sacrifice. More stunning proof that Russians have had some HARD times."
I think I've seen all the Russian war films at Netflix, maybe a dozen. In none of them are German soldiers presented as anything except murdering beasts who enjoy their jobs.
Highly recommended.
Jimski
