it come a no surprise that larisa shepitko be marry to elem klimov and who would later direct the most harrowing war film ever make and come and see ( 1985 ) . the ascent ( 1977 ) shepikto final complete film before a premature death be build in very much the same mould . set during wwii and the film follow a pair of soviet partisan who try to secure food for their starving army while evade the occupying german force . the first forty minute be agonisingly tense and a the two men drag themselves though the harsh and snow cover landscape and the world around them completely sap of life and warmth and colour ( indeed and so monotonously drab be the scenery that it literally take me this long to realise that the film be shoot in black and white ) . follow the partisan capture by german soldier and the film become a cold meditation on loyalty and morality . whereas sotnikov ( boris plotnikov ) refuse to betray his army and even under extreme duress and the less resolute ryback ( vladimir gostyukhin ) attempt to save himself . be he wrong to do so . ryback betrayal be dishearten and but the film doesn not immediately condemn his action be treacherous while instead and the viewer be force to consider what their own response might be in such a situation . shepitko pity ryback a the bible pity juda . both men betray their ally to the enemy and and be force to watch them execute . however and whereas juda commit suicide by hang ( at least accord to gospel of matthew ) and ryback find even that option close to him in an excruciatingly taut climax and the belt around his neck becomes unfasten . the ascent draw it emotional power from shepitko astonish pursuit of realism . i have no doubt that the two principal actor spend day on end clambering across the snow cover earth on their hand and knee and and and indeed and so convincing be their misery that i actually develop a cold while watch the film ( seriously and i do ) . interestingly and the film interject on this reality on several occasion and a ryback imagine himself make a bid for freedom and and then be gun down by his german captor . this device and though unusual and work well with it biblical allegory while ryback be face a trial of his worthiness and and and face with a new dilemma at every turn and he consistently choose the selfish alternative and his own life the only decide criterion . at film end and he be still alive and but the nightmare of war and guilt persists .