The Ascent (1977) is a Soviet war drama film directed by Larisa Shepitko and based on the 1970 novel Sotnikov by Vasil Bykaŭ. The film tells the story of two Soviet partisans, Sotnikov (Boris Plotnikov) and Rybak (Vladimir Gostyukhin), who are on a mission to find food for their starving unit. However, they are captured by the Nazis and must choose between martyrdom and betrayal.
The film is set in Belarus during the winter of 1942, and it depicts the harsh realities of war and the difficult choices that people must make in order to survive. It is a powerful and moving film that explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and betrayal.
The Ascent was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and it is now considered to be one of the greatest Soviet films ever made. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of war, its complex characters, and its powerful message.
The film begins with Sotnikov and Rybak setting out on their mission. They are both experienced soldiers, but they are also exhausted and hungry. They eventually find a farm, but it is occupied by a group of collaborators. Sotnikov and Rybak kill the collaborators and take the food, but they are soon captured by a German patrol.
The Germans take Sotnikov and Rybak to a nearby village, where they are interrogated by a Gestapo officer. The officer offers to let Rybak go if he betrays Sotnikov, but Rybak refuses. Sotnikov is tortured, but he also refuses to betray the Soviet cause.
The next day, Sotnikov is hanged by the Germans. Rybak is forced to watch the execution. After the execution, Rybak is released. He returns to his unit, but he is haunted by the guilt of Sotnikov's death.
The Ascent is a powerful and moving film that explores the difficult choices that people must make in order to survive in a time of war. It is a film that stays with you long after you have seen it.
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Cast
- Boris Plotnikov as Sotnikov
- Vladimir Gostyukhin as Rybak
- Sergei Yakovlev as Village elder
- Lyudmila Polyakova as Demchikha
- Viktoriya Goldentul as Basya Meyer
- Anatoli Solonitsyn as Portnov, the collaborationist interrogator
- Maria Vinogradova as Village elder's wife
- Nikolai Sektimenko as Stas'
Director: Larisa Shepitko
Writers: Vasiliy Bykov Yuri Klepikov Larisa Shepitko
Distributor: MosFilm
Release Date: April 2, 1977