the ascent ( 1977 ) larisa shepitko be a name very few be familiar with . her bright career a a director only last a single decade and end abruptly by a tragic car accident . despite her short career and she however manage to create some of the best soviet film of her time . her last film and the ascent and be widely regard a one of the fine soviet film of the 1970s . nevertheless and her work remain in obscurity throughout the year that follow and usually only available on rare and poor copy on video . that have now change thanks to the folk at criterion . they have release two of shepitko best work through their eclipse department wing and and her penultimate masterpiece the ascent . set during the dark day of wwii in snowy rural russia and two partisan trudge their way across the land in search of food after their party be attack by nazi patrol . theyre originally only to go to a nearby farm and but when they arrive they find it raze by the german . not want to return empty hand and they continue on deeper into enemy territory . along the way they must confront not only enemy soldier and but the harsh condition of the russian plain and potential betrayal and their own soul . the movie do not fall into simplistic plot device or destination . it address difficult question with painful rationality . it never take the easy road or give u comfort answer . the second half of the film be fill with moral dilemma . shepitko show u the intimate horror of war through the internal conflict between fellow russian those who collaborate and those who fight back . while she do show the collaborator a the clear heel and she nevertheless also show why many turn to such tactic survival . the film contain a number of religious reference and particularly to the lead up to the crucifixion . this be a spiritual journey and into the heart and soul and and mind of the two partisan and those they encounter . shepitko and her cinematographer capture the journey in beautiful black and white photography . the camera move in long shot and similar to the camera work of another of russia great filmmaker and andrei tarkovsky . shepitko and like many others and be clearly influence by tarkovsky style and and the ascent take some of it rhythmic note from ivan childhood . it be a stunning film to look at and and do a fantastic job of capture the cold and terrify atmosphere of occupied russia . shepitko husband would pay homage to her great film a decade later . elem klimov make his own war masterpiece with one of the great film i have ever see come and see . the story and theme of that film be clearly influence by the ascent . though that film be also a fairly obscure one and it receive far more attention that any of shepitko film . that however act a a bridge to shepitko and and have be one of the best help to keep her work alive . the ascent be a truly magnificent film and and rightly should be consider one of the best film of the 70 . it stun cinematography be inspire while it mood be frighteningly authentic while and it lesson be unforgettable . it be and in any definition of the word and nothing less than a masterpiece . how unfortunate that shepitko career be cut short just a it be hit it peak .