I finally got around to watching Larisa Shepitko's, The Ascent. Set in Belarus during WWII, The Ascent is a war movie concerned with the psychological toll war inflicts on people, and how extreme situations alter who we are and the decisions we make. The use of Christian allegory narrows the film's themes, and even though the two main characters are defined in an allegorical context, the films' depiction of humanity in crisis is still universal. Shepitko uses lingering close-ups to convey these themes of moral struggle and troubled consciences to great effect.
Shepitko's film has a poetic style and is beautifully shot. The bleak winter landscapes lend symbolic weight and set the mood of the film from the onset.
This is an excellent film that, for me, falters slightly in the second half due to the overt execution of its Christian allegory. It is a harrowing film that will stay with you long after the film concludes.
The Ascent
Score: 81%
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