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Let's talk about Come and See. It's the absolute triumph of Soviet cinema. And how it was made was absolutely horrifying. It's a feat that will never be repeated...
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Thumbnail plot: WWII in Belorussia. Teenage boy finds rifle, joins partizans, chaos ensues...
Director Elem Klimov insisted on authenticity. And this is where things get crazy...
Director Elem Klimov insisted on authenticity. And this is where things get crazy...
Kilmov had the cooperation of the Red Army. And as such, and to ensure authenticity, they used LIVE AMMO. The scene when the Germans attack the partizan camp is the Red Army shooting REAL artillery shells at the CHILD ACTORS and crew.
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That wasn't a special effects shot. There were no pro effects guys setting off safe charges. It was REAL ARTILLERY. And I have heard they didn't tell the CHILD ACTORS beforehand what was about to happen. Wow.
(This is a spoiler BTW...) The scene where Glasha realizes what's happened to Flyora's while he's still oblivious still haunts me many years later. Sheer horror.
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Even crazier than the live artillery is what they did to lead actor Aleksei Kravchenko. He was 14 at the time. They induced a state of shell shock thru drug induced hypnosis and making him watch hours and hours of the worst war footage (the stuff that doesn't make news reels).
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They also starved him (just as the partizans starved). By the end of production he looked like a wrinkled old man and his hair was actually grey. That's not makeup...
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So fuck the haters. It's an incredible film. It's also free to watch on the Mosfilm Youtube so check it out.
And while you're there check out the other gems of Soviet Cinema.
youtube.com/watch?v=zjIiAp…
And while you're there check out the other gems of Soviet Cinema.
youtube.com/watch?v=zjIiAp…
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