This movie was from a very long time on my list movies, which I have to watch. I didn’t knew much about it – some basic facts about director, topic. I wasn’t prepared to see one of the most the devastating, cruel and shocking film I ever saw.
Director, Elem Klimov, tells the story of a boy fourteen years old, Florja, who against the wishes of the mother decides to join the partisans and fought against the Germans. The boy goes to camp, where the first few days are not the easiest - it is hard to locate in the brutal world of adult men, which is treated as a drudge. Its existence in the camp interrupted by the unexpected bombing carried out by the Germans. Fourteen Florja decides to return to his native village. But here it turns out that it was completely destroyed. The boy decides to run away. But everywhere we will succeed him will be waiting for further images showing fascist cruelty that goes on forever change his mind. And I think that precisely these changes the most focused director. He did it so vividly that when the last scene we see the main character - we do not believe that this is the same boy. His face seems to be wrinkled, emaciated, his eyes unseeing, and all forms simply electrifying impression reflecting how strong mark can squeeze the war.
A war in this film is shown in a way shocking. There are no images bombing, spectacular acts of war, troops march. These are the images of children placed in buildings that will be burned immediately, girls are beaten and brutally raped, old men, of whom the soldiers laugh. And it is Florja, watching the German officer who, without any emotion allows adults to get out of the trap, but only without children ... The boy once again sees the same officer, when he begs for mercy, because the war has its laws, because he had orders, because he has grandchildren ...
I think at this point Florja was filled with hatred and desire for revenge. Not much different from the German soldiers burning the village. "Violence breeds violence." Question what's next? His eyes look empty, devoid of feeling, of hope. Goes with the other into the forest, but what will meet him there - that nobody knows.
War is evil, the cruelty, the barbarity, and carrying a very pacifist message Klimov movie is the best example..