The 1985 Soviet World War 2 drama Come and See continues to receive acclaim from audiences and critics, with many viewers declaring it superior to Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. The film currently holds a 90% critics' score and a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Plot and Historical Basis
Directed by Elem Klimov, Come and See stars Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. The story is set in Belarus during the German occupation of World War 2 and follows a young boy who joins the resistance. The film is based on real events and drew inspiration from survivor testimonies and the novel Khatyn by Ales Adamovich.
Viewer Reactions
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer wrote: 'BY FAR the best most horrific depiction of war I have ever seen. It makes Saving Private Ryan look like a comedy. Absolutely amazing depiction of what war really is and should be a mandatory watch for students in high school.' Another added: 'I was SPEECHLESS! Greatest war movie ever made.'
A third viewer commented: 'Elem Klimov's brutal masterpiece is definitely the most devastating, disturbing, terrifying and personal one of my favorite war film of all time. It almost feels like you're watching a horror movie. Showing the true, cruel reality of war from a civilian perspective.' Someone else said: 'This is a heart-wrenching film and might be my favourite war film.'
Critical and Festival Recognition
Upon its release in 1985, Come and See received positive reviews and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. Over the years, it has appeared on numerous lists ranking the greatest films ever made. In 2022, it was ranked among the top films of all time in the prestigious Sight & Sound poll. The film is frequently mentioned in discussions about the best anti-war movies ever released.
Availability
Come and See is available to stream on Apple TV.
