Aufstieg (1977)
22KAufstieg: Directed by Larisa Shepitko. With Boris Plotnikov, Vladimir Gostyukhin, Sergey Yakovlev, Lyudmila Polyakova. Two Soviet partisans on a mission to gather food contend with the winter cold, the occupying Germans, and their own psyches.
“Is oneu0026#39;s life the most valuable thing one can possess? Are all ideals and philosophies mere fallacy, not worth sacrificing oneu0026#39;s life for? These are the questions this film touches upon. And does so brilliantly.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBy todayu0026#39;s standards, the film might be viewed as somewhat slow-paced and indeed, without giving too much away, certain scenes are a bit stretched out and in my opinion, could have been made shorter for stronger emotional impact. Nonetheless, the amazing performance by all the main actors kept me glued to the screen most of the time. The hopelessness and the terror of war, intensified by the unforgiving Russian winter, permeates the film from start to finish.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film presents us with food for thought not covered much by modern cinema, touching upon something that isnu0026#39;t often discussed openly in modern society. We avoid it because it lurks inside each of us and we fear it – venality and betrayal in face of death. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOur life is everything we know – the entire world ends with it, as Portnov, the Nazi interrogator says in the film. Would YOU sacrifice it for something? For anything? This film will force you to ponder this question and reflect on your values and yourself as a human being.”
