I can recommend this film

I have always liked war films, especially as a boy. A while ago I saw a television program called 'The Top 100 War Films' or something similar and in amongst the films that were recomended was one called 'Come and See'. This is a Russian film which has recently been digitally remastered from restored print. It was filmed in nineteen eighty five and tells a story from the eyes of a boy in Belarus during the second world war.
It is honest and artistic and was made for good reason. I found that it stunned me a little the first time I watched it and the second time, upset me. It was nice to be reminded how unbending and powerfull the medium of film can be and how it is possible to become emotionally involved.
The double disc set, which includes the director explaining some of his experiences of the war as a child, can be bought from www.Play.com and is well worth a look, much better to watch it in russian with english subtitles than with the dubbed sound track. If you can hook up a capable stereo for viewing then all the better as it is an audible treat as much as a visual one with live ordenance being used throughout.
Can not recommend it enough. Ben

 

Thanks for reminding me. I also saw 'The Top 100 War Films," and meant to find out more about this one.

 

I can also recommend the 1930 'All Quiet on the Western Front' it differs from the book slightly but is brilliant also, with some very funny bits. You can see that some of the great war films to come out of America are based quite strongly on this film.

 

'Come and See' is a great film, I used to live in a share house in Nottm with a bloke who was a film nut and he had this one. I seem to remember it was a bit bleak at points!

I saw quite a few Russian and Eastern European films in that house, and many of them were superb - completely different from the kind of films we're used to in the UK, the Russians especially are NOT afraid of a thoroughly miserable ending! Trouble is, I have a crap memory and can't remember many of the titles. There's a couple I remember that are slightly better known, such as Solaris (not the George Clooney version, obviously), and Europa Europa (German film based on a true story of a jewish kid in WW2 who ends up fighting for pretty much everyone including the Hitler youth in an effort to survive). Those two are really great films though.

 

Hello 'La toilette' I have just ordered 'Europa Europa' from Play.com will let you know what I think. Also have just found website dealing with European Film, www.kinoeye.org . It has a article about the director of 'come and see' and gives some of his other films. Hope this could be of interest to you. Cheers, Ben.

 

Hello, I watched Europa Europa last night and enjoyed it greatly, thanks for the recommendation. It's not often you see a film with a main character who is so unlikeable, all the people he knows die because of their beliefs, irrespective of what they are. He on the other hand is totally devoid of any concience and thinks only of himself. Very funny in parts too, with strange annomalies like the Hercules dropping bombs in 1945 germany! Good stuff, any more of similar ilk?

 

Glad you enjoyed that film, if I can remember any other interesting titles of that approximate genre I'll let you know. On a completely different wavelength, ever watched Sonatine? It's a cracker - Japanese gangster film, the best, in fact I need to get hold of it again cos I haven't seen it for years.

 

Don't know that one, is it very violent? Have seen some Jap movies that are really sadistic and not my cup of tea.

 

Yes, it has its moments of violence and they're a little graphic although they don't dominate the film, and the film really is a lot more than that. But, if you don't like that kind of thing (which is understandable) then p'raps those particular moments might spoil it for you - maybe read reviews on the web, it's well regarded.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108188/

 

Ok, cheers have ordered it. Thanks.

 

Have just watched 'Open Your Eyes' or rather 'Abre Los Ojos' as it is a portugese film staring Eduardo Noriega and Penelope Cruz. I heard about this film listening to the radio coming home from work at three o'clock in the morning. It is the film that 'Vanilla Sky' is the Hollywood remake of but as I have not seen the remake I can not compare the two. It is rather disturbing to watch but a very good film indeed and certainly worth watching once. Another film with a dislikable main character.

 

Watched the 'Sonatine' film and liked it, was really rather relaxing to watch. Certainly has the best headbutt I've seen in a while.