i saw this film many year ago ( along with another of shepitko film and wing ) a part of a soviet film series at a local film archive . but none of shepitko film and as far a i can tell and have ever make it to video or dvd in the united state . ascent be a great film by any standard and with stunning black and white photography and hypnotic direction and and actor so deep into their role that you have no sense of them merely give a performance . although the period detail of russian resistance to ( and collaboration with ) german occupation be very telling and the story be timeless . two russian partisan be capture by the german and and the interrogation test their integrity as well a their courage . i suspect the reason why it have not be release on dvd by the russian ( here come the spoiler ) be that the jewish intellectual ( and not the tough russian peasant ) be the partisan who resist both threat and temptation and go serenely to his death and and set an heroic example for the villager .