The Ascent

Ethan

This is one intense movie that exudes the feeling of impending doom. The action seems incredibly real and the expressions of the actors are gut wrenching and horrifying as the material. A monumental achievement in filmmaking with some of the best snow cinematography ever committed to celluloid.

Not A Sexy Vampire

One of the most raw and affecting war films I've ever seen. Its claustrophobic intensity (Paths of Glory), visceral yet still somehow beautiful black and white cinematography (Ivan's Childhood) is reminiscent of other works. Yet, Shepitko has outdone these, crafting a devastating film about the existential terror that war inspires. Moments and characters linger, one wonders can we hold onto faith in a soulless world?

Guillermo Padilla

How to recognize a masterpiece ?. No doubt the Russian filmmakers achieved the expertise of taking us through powerful images to the most recondite places of the human being. The light in the middle of the war: through a look. A strict and poetic use of cinema using and channeling the full force of cinematographic language.

ASHES IN THE HOURGLASS

How much more pretentious and kitsch can you get than a retelling of Jesus Christ set in WW2 where the Nazis swap the Romans? If this was made in Hollywood, it would have been laughed at, but because it's made in Mother Russia and sort of resembles a Tarkovky film, its been hailed as great. Seriously, people need to get over the so-called Russian Soul bullshit. The performances and small moments redeem it slightly.

Lorna Singh

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.

Graveyard Poet

Set in perhaps the bleakest wintry landscape in the history of cinema, this is a harrowing, haunting, and heart-wrenching exploration of war, impending death, and the meaning of conscience. Stunningly powerful and overwhelmingly intense experience--left me speechless.

Francisco R.

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.

comeandsee

like many filmmakers before and since, Shepitko, died far too soon. but with this amazing masterpiece of betrayal, horror and subtextual power. paralleled to the passion of jesus christ, she leaves behind a piece which is one of the best art films ever made. and plus she has one of the most vicious swipes at the Soviet regime ever committed to film.