Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Films/DVD Asylum

Finally got to see the Ascent

68.63.130.56

Victor Khomenko

Tin was basically right in his characterization, so look up his post.

It is a VERY "Russian" war film, which is probably as far removed from Hollywood as it can be. So perhaps to me there was less of a revelation in it, due to tremendous, and officially sponsored role of war films in formation of a "Soviet Man", although of course it is better than average in all respects. I was struck by incredible performance of Solonytsyn, who played the cold-eyed investigator, so shockingly good I kept asking myself if that was indeed him - you might recall him in Tarkovsky's Mirror, for instance.

Indeed, a very strong recommendation for anyone interested in "other" ways of portraying the horrors of war... more specifically the ones found in many European films.

Follow Ups:

If indeed the Soviets felt this film was somehow an addition to their propaganda, I must - tinear 11:30:46 05/09/10 (1)
admit to being confused. A man commits an act of great bravery and then, later on, succumbs to fear and debases himself.
As a view of human nature under unrelenting stress--- which is what war is, right?--- this film is unsurpassed. I find I cannot forget it.
- Maybe I have seen too many Soviet war films... - Victor Khomenko 05:33:03 05/10/10 (0)
  It was almost a special industry, heavily subsidized, but it didn't strike me as something unusual, and easy to understand from the psychological standpoint. The Russians have that special proverb for it, and the reality is death in a fight with your buddies around you, and the lonely painful one in the dark cell in the hands of a torturer, are different things, that require different types of a character. Very few people have both.
  
  Also, don't forget - the guy convinced himself he was going to escape. In reality that was the case for many, many thousands of Russians who served the Germans in police and General Vlasov division - the means to survive and then join the Soviets. Some indeed escaped, only to find the death in the camps, as NKVD was brutal towards them to no end.
  
  But yes, a very good war film by any standard.

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion