The Ascent

The Ascent

  • Director: Larisa Shepitko
  • Writer: Vasiliy Bykov,Yuri Klepikov,Larisa Shepitko
  • Countries of origin: Soviet Union
  • Language: Russian, German
  • Release date: April 2, 1977
  • Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes
  • Sound mix: Mono
  • Aspect ratio: 1.37 : 1
  • Also known as: Die Erhöhung
  • "Восхождение" is a feature film directed by Larisa Shepitko and starring Boris Plotnikov and Vladimir Goschusin.
    The film tells the fate of the guerrilla captain Sotnikov and the soldier Rybakov after they were captured by the Germans during the Great Patriotic War.

    Details

    • Release date April 2, 1977
    • Filming locations Mosfilm Studios, Moscow, Russia
    • Production companies Trete Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie, Mosfilm

    Movie reviews

     ( 6 ) Add reviews

    • By Beau 2022-09-08 11:30:31

      "Rise" from "The Director's Talk"

      The film uses accurate and rich film language to express the different choices of the two protagonists in the face of the test of life and death. When faced with such a choice, there is no third way for them to die in honor or live humbly. Sotnikov and Ryback made very different choices, and the difference between the two characters was so sharp that the director decided to shoot the film in black and white to accentuate the contrast.

      The film...

    • By Camron 2022-08-05 09:34:39

      The Ascent--Heroes Become Traitors

      The film tells the story before and after the capture of two Soviet Red Army soldiers during World War II. A Soviet Red Army guerrilla unit sends two soldiers to find food: a heroic hero and a taciturn artilleryman. On the way, the two saw the people who were slaughtered and expressed some emotion. After the two met the village chief, the male protagonist knew that he had cooperated with the...

    • By Madonna 2022-07-05 16:40:02

      red doom

      Many comments have said that this film is about human nature, but I think if we get to the bottom of it, this is actually a political film.
      Why do we have to call it a political film? I summed up a law, that is, a film has a political background, or the story takes place in a specific period of political conflict, then it is definitely not a film without any political intentions, even if it is small, it is inevitable The background story of existence
      takes place in World War II....

    • By Isidro 2022-07-05 12:36:31

      Gao Daquan's coldness

      The dead man's eyes and expressions became the main theme of the picture under the guidance of Gao Daquan.
      However, it can be seen that the Russians are as cold as the ice and snow.
      hero? They are also ruthless to foreigners.
      Where did their land come from?
      I feel that even this ex-Soviet film reflects this ruthless nature of the Russians. It is not difficult to explain today's Russian skinheads.
      The Red Army, the guerrillas, may sometimes be more despicable and...

    • By Diego 2022-07-05 11:53:25

      The best option for a dilemma

          The captured guerrilla faces a truly vicious enemy, his viciousness lies in the fact that he does not care about the life and death of the captives himself, but allows him to choose between the life and death of his comrades in the woods and the innocent residents who rescue him. If it were you, which would you choose?
          The guerrillas said to the woman who was about to be sacrificed on the execution ground, "Forgive me". Is that to forgive the despair you brought her? I don't...

    User comments

      ( 22 ) Add comments

    • By Leatha 2023-09-25 16:42:23

      It's so awesome, and it's one after another, the more you go, the more awesome you get. It even gives a Dreyer feeling. Shepichenko taught us to use what kind of scene and what kind of scene to use, what length of lens to use, no technique is yyds, so as to maximize the impact, such a film has Breathing and...

    • By Robb 2023-09-15 16:17:45

      3.5 From war to religion. Three Judas were stunned by Christ's gaze, and two attempted to prove their innocence. Finally, the theme is pulled back to anti-war in the scream of Judas's pain. The shots are beautiful and accurate, trying to extract power from static situations. The appearance of Sotnikov, who symbolizes Christ, is like a slow zoom-in, from which you can see the rhythm of the director's technique. It's a pity that non-believers like me can't be deeply...

    • By Eloise 2023-09-08 21:33:36

      Russia exhibition is the biggest bright. 4.5/5. Shepichenko's own posthumous works, which were not screened together with his husband's "Go See Yourself", probably belonged to the tenderness of the curator...Using oppressive close-ups and sound effects, no, using bullets, snow, branches , charcoal fire, even the face of others, sculpting the face of a saint, the sudden light when praying in the middle of the night, just like Bergman's technique, the secret of divinity resides in a face of...

    • By Jessika 2023-08-16 23:08:51

      Four point five. The beauty of this lens is oriental. I think Larissa created a barren lens aesthetic. It is extremely peaceful and violent; meaning seems to be scattered throughout, but because of the peaceful and violent conflict of the image layers, it has long since disappeared with the snow, the lost focus, the violent brushing of the branches, and the swaying and outstretching towards the camera. To zoom in is to enter the void of the universe. The essence is here. The essence of...

    • By Malvina 2023-08-05 02:31:06

      The images of the two characters are very good, and the scene is particularly impressive. The gallows are too high for the little girl to reach. The German officer is very considerate and takes a box as a footrest and helps her to step on it. Carefully adjusting the noose to the best position... that's...

    Movie plot

    During the Great Patriotic War, the guerrilla captain Sotnikov and the soldier Rybakov were captured by the Germans during a mission. Sotnikov withstood the test, was brave and unyielding, and finally sacrificed; Rybakov was afraid of being punished, expressed his obedience, and became a pseudo-police. It turned out that he also wanted to delay the time and escape. But as a result, step by step, it became deeper and deeper, unable to...
    more about The Ascent Movie plot

    Evaluation action

    The film shows that in war, people are faced with a series of "abnormal" situations, forcing themselves to make the strictest choice - a choice between life and death. Under the conditions of war, to maintain human nature and human dignity, it is often necessary to pay the highest price. Rybakov saw his comrade-in-arms being hanged and wanted to commit suicide to relieve his carbuncle, but he finally succeeded. On the surface, it is...
    more about The Ascent Evaluation action

    Movie quotes

    • Sotnikov: [Imprisoned, Sotnikov and Rybak are arguing whether to speak with Germans or not] We're soldiers. Soldiers. Don't crawl in shit. You'll never wash it off.

      Rybak: So then, to the grave - to feed the worms. Right?

      Sotnikov: That's not the worst that could happen. No. That's not what I'm talking about. Now I understand. I understand. The important thing is to be true to yourself.

      Rybak: Fool! You're a fool, Sotnikov. You graduated from the institute for nothing. I want to live! To live! To kill those bastards! Understand? I'm the soldier. And you're a corpse. All you've got left is your stubbornness - your principles!

      Sotnikov: Then go, go on living - without a conscience. It can be done.

    • Portnov, the Nazi interrogator: You want to save the woman without giving up anything? That won't work. You'll have to trouble your conscience. One way or the other, you'll have to. There's no way out. None.

      Sotnikov: I won't betray anyone. Not anyone. There are things more important than one's own hide.

      Portnov, the Nazi interrogator: [laughs] Where? What is it? What's it made of? That's nonsense. We're mortal. With death, everything ends for up, all of life. The entire world. It's not worth it. For what? As an example for future generations? But you won't have a heroic death, either. You won't just die. You'll croak like a traitor. And if you won't tell, someone else will. And we'll write it off to you. Understand?

      Sotnikov: Scum. Human scum.

    • Portnov, the Nazi interrogator: [Sotnikov asks for Portnov] What now?

      Sotnikov: Do something... for them.

      Portnov, the Nazi interrogator: And that's all, citizen "Ivanov"?

      Sotnikov: No. Not Ivanov. My name's Sotnikov. Commander, Red Army. Born in 1917. Bolshevik. Party member since 1935. Teacher by profession. At the start of the war, I commanded a battery. It's a shame I didn't kill more of you bastards. My name is Sotnikov, Boris Andreevich. I have a father, a mother and a motherland.

      Portnov, the Nazi interrogator: [returning back] Herr Major, nothing important.