I found this Soviet (Russian) film in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, when I read more into, I found it was selected as the Soviet entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, but was not accepted as a nominee, but it was also rated well by critics, so I hoped for something worthwhile. Basically set during World War II, two Soviet partisans, Sotnikov (Boris Plotnikov) and Rybak (Vladimir Gostyukhin), go to a Belarusian village in search of food. But they are spotted by a German patrol trying to take an animal from the farm of collaborationist headman (Sergei Yakovlev). A large gunfight takes place in the snow, one German is killed, and the two men get away, but Sotnikov (Boris Plotnikov) is shot in the leg, Rybak (Vladimir Gostyukhin) must take him to the nearest shelter. They find the home of Demchikha (Lyudmila Polyakova), mother of three children, however the Germans discover them, and they are captured. The two men and a sobbing Demchikha are taken to the German headquarters. Sotnikov is interrogated by local collaborator Portnov (Anatoli Solonitsyn), a former Soviet club-house director and children's choirmaster, now head of the Belarusian Auxiliary Police and loyal to the Germans. Sotnikov refuses to answer Portnov's questions, despite being brutally tortured by members of the collaborationist police, he gives them no information. But Rybak tells as much as he thinks the police already know, hoping to live and attempt to escape later. The headman is then suspected of supporting the partisans, and teenager Basya Meyer (Viktoriya Goldentul), daughter of a Jewish shoemaker, are imprisoned in a cell together for the night. The next morning, all prisoners are lead out to be hanged, Rybak persuades Portnov and the Germans to let him join the police, while Sotnikov and the others are executed. The villagers vilify Rybak as he heads back to camp with his new comrades, he realises what he has done, he attempts to hang himself with his belt, but he fails. A policeman comes to see Rybak, telling him that their commander wants him, and leaves him alone in the courtyard, Rybak stares out of the door, he begins to laugh and weep. Also starring Lyudmila Polyakova as Demchikha. Filmed in monochrome black-and-white, this film was the fourth and last feature completed by director Larissa Shepitko, before her fatal car crash, it is an interesting story about desperation to survive, cowardice and collaboration, the scenes in the wintery conditions are most memorable, a worthwhile war drama. Good!
Review of The Ascent
