MOSFILM
ART STUDIO THREE
THE ASCENT
Based on the noveIIa Sotnikov by VasiIi Bykov
Script Yuri KIepikov, Larisa Shepitko
Director Larisa Shepitko
Cinematography VIadimir Chukhnov
Hurry! Hurry!
Germans!
Punishment squad!
Germans!
Stay caIm!
Rybak! You too!
Get to cover! Everyone into the woods!
Into the woods! Pick her up!
Ammo!
Sotnikov: Boris PIotnikov Rybak: VIadimir Gostyukhin
ViIIage EIder: Sergei YakovIev Demchika: LyudmiIa PoIyakova
Basya: Victoria GoIdentuI
Portnov: AnatoIi SoIonitsyn Stas': NikoIai Sektimenko
ViIIage EIder's Wife: Maria Vinogradova
Sotnikov, let's move out!
I'II cover you!
Move out!
I can't -
Rest.
Just a moment. Just a moment, dear.
We'II get you something to drink, something to eat.
Krotsky -
What?
Get it out.
Get what out?
Whatever there is Ieft to eat.
WeII, that was good going.
So where are the sIeds?
We should move on. Then we'll be okay.
We need to get out of here and find something to eat.
Then you'II be the one to get it.
We have to stay here a whiIe.
You know the Kurgaev farm?
Kurgaev? I do.
He's got a woman there.
Hey, you. Watch it.
Make a run over there. Be quick.
This is us.
Here's Dubovoi's camp.
- What about the wounded? - And the chiIdren?
The famiIies need to be deIivered safeIy.
And without food, you yourseIf know -
It's stiII a Iong ways to Dubovoi.
A Iong way to go.
How about finding a boar?
We couId feed everyone.
Pack up.
What, aIone?
Take someone with you.
Stoptsov.
What kind of heIp couId I be?
Right.
Matyushenko. - They're caIIing you.
What's going on there?
This weapon's jammed.
But I couId go. Whatever you say.
No. Fix it so it shoots by morning.
Fine.
Is your weapon in order, ArtiIIery?
AII in order.
KoIya!
Say hi to Zosya!
Eat some snow. It heIps.
Damn! Won't go away.
Can't do anything about it.
Why didn't you stay? Someone eIse couId've come.
Who?
We're in deep now.
Used up the Iast of the ammo on some patroIIers.
Doesn't matter. Once we get to Dubovoi, we'II have pIenty.
You shoot pretty good.
Good eye.
Are you reaIIy from the artiIIery? - ReaIIy.
A reguIar soIdier then.
Not quite.
How's that?
I taught math.
I graduated from the teacher's coIIege in Vitebsk.
Math? That's good.
WaIk in my footsteps. It'II be easier.
I've been meaning to visit her for a whiIe now -
- Who? - Zosya.
My Zosya's there. She's terrific.
You've got girIs on your mind.
Why not? It's not aII just about war.
No, it's not Iike that.
Zosya and her foIks are Iike famiIy to me.
They hid me when I was wounded, and with the Germans aII about.
You were surrounded?
They saved me, didn't give me away.
They knew who they were hiding - a company commander, after aII.
A reguIar soIdier.
When we were parting, Kurgaev gave me his short fur coat.
Then they sent me off to the partisans as if I were their own son.
Are you kidding? No hard feeIings at aII.
Even though they knew about Zosya and me.
You know, she came to me on her own.
I wasn't even thinking about it.
I was sIeeping.
And in the morning, I hear someone breathing heaviIy.
I feIt heat sweeping aII over me.
Damn. I wouId've married right away if it wasn't for the war.
Is it stiII a Iong way?
We're getting cIose aIready.
See what I mean? TaIking makes the road shorter.
I don't know about you
but I can't stand these Ione assignments.
Even the easiest ones.
I'd rather make a hundred attacks, as Iong as I'm in the ranks.
But at night, the forest - It's hard, you know.
Maybe -
Maybe they... had time to get out.
TeII you what. Go on back.
I'II go on another coupIe of kiIometers.
Can't go back empty-handed.
What the heII? I said I'd go aIone.
You'II freeze without a hat. - Hats don't grow in the woods.
In the viIIage, every man has a hat.
So I shouId snatch it from someone, you say?
Snatch it? There's aIways a way to taIk to peopIe.
You just need to know how.
Here. It's warmer than nothing. - No, don't.
Cut it out. Don't be fussy.
It's nice and warm.
Want some?
Go ahead, eat.
ActuaIIy, thanks for not Ieaving.
When there are two -
WeII, Iet's move on.
Where is this damn viIIage?
Are you the headman?
WeII?
Anyone eIse here?
Just us.
Any Germans in the viIIage?
Germans? No. There's onIy a poIiceman Ieft behind.
Got a cow?
Yes.
So far.
You shouId eat something. I've got something hot here.
Fine, but make it quick.
So you work for the Germans.
Do they pay much?
I haven't asked for anything, and I haven't gotten anything.
He's an oId man.
He did a stupid thing. - Keep quiet.
Take your hat off.
- Your son? - Our son. Our ToIya.
Is he with the poIice too?
No, for God's sake! He's at the front.
We don't know if he's aIive or not.
Yeah.
You're a disgrace to your son. You soId out.
Put your BibIe down.
WeII!
Gripping Iike a - Let's go.
- Son. Son, dear - - Keep quiet.
Move it.
- Our Father. - Wait!
Don't! Have mercy on the fooI! Son, dear.
He's going to shoot him.
You shouId've thought of that earIier.
You think he wanted to be a German headman?
They threaten him every day. Shouting.
Putting a gun to his head!
Son, dear, Iet me out.
Let me see.
Let me see what's happening.
Son, dear -
Son! What are you -
What's with you? - Nothing.
You're sick with fever.
Your friend's caIIing you.
He's sick.
Here's some dry raspberries. You can make tea somepIace.
Something to drink. - No, thanks.
Why not?
Go on.
And shut the door.
What, you're Ietting him go?
The heII with him.
Sorry.
I'm no heIp today.
Why the heII did you come then?
You asked aIready.
" Asked.''
Those other two wouIdn't come, and you -
Stop it! Stop it aIready!
Where are we?
I didn't notice. Are we going the right way?
I think so.
Faster!
So you want to take me aIive.
Just a second.
Damn it.
There.
Now you won't take me.
Sotnikov.
Where are you hit? - In the Ieg.
Let's go.
I can't.
Come on.
What is it?
Come on.
Does it hurt?
What's with you? HeIp.
One moment.
Grab on.
This is the end of it.
Where to now? It's aII Iake.
Wait here.
I'II Iook around.
Looks okay.
There's a cabin cIose by. It Iooks empty.
Sotnikov, what's with you?
You'II see.
Maybe -
I'II take you there.
We'II get warm.
And then -
I'II stay here.
Yeah. You know, that'II be better.
I need to go. The boys are waiting.
I'm frozen.
It's aII right.
It's aII right, brother.
I'II come back for you.
Then we'II move you.
I'II come back for you.
I'II reaIIy come back for you.
KoIya. Everything's fine.
I was onIy afraid to die out in the open fieId.
In the night, aIone Iike a dog.
In the woods, it's not frightening.
The main thing is to get used to the thought:
Is this to be the end?
Go on in.
Are you aIone here?
Yeah.
Where's your father?
He's gone.
Your mother?
She works for oId man YemeIyan, earning money for food.
I see.
Any Germans in the viIIage?
No.
They came once and took our pig.
They took it away in a truck.
What's your mother's name?
- Demchika. - So you must be Demyan, then, right?
They aIso caII Mama " PoIgeniya.''
Are you partisans too?
What do you need to know for? You're just a kid.
Say, is there any hot water?
There is. Wait.
Bring us some.
Maybe you've got some food too?
Mama boiIed potatoes.
Do you have any bread?
Leonik ate it aII yesterday.
Here's some, a treat.
Thank you.
Scram!
That's Mama.
Mama! We've got partisans here!
HeIIo, ma'am.
What's this about?
We were waiting for you.
What for?
There's no bread. There's no butter.
GaIya, take Katya.
No hens to Iay eggs!
We're being nice to you, woman, and you're angry with us.
If I were angry with you, you'd be out of here.
GaIya, I said take Katya! I'II punish you!
When's the Iast time you saw Dyomka?
How do you know about Dyomka?
We know him.
He's wounded.
The buIIet's stiII inside him. We'II have to get it out.
Forget it. You can't get it out.
They say there was crying over by Lesiny aII night.
They say a German got shot.
Who says?
The oId women aIways taIk.
The oId women? The oId women know everything.
Get out of there.
AII right. That's that.
But now what?
That's the question.
How shouId I know what you shouId do?
You see?
He can't waIk. That's for sure.
You got here, didn't you?
Quit it, Rybak. Let's go.
HoId on!
Germans.
They're heading this way.
In the attic! In the attic!
In the attic! Go!
HeIIo, Prava. How are things?
See any strangers?
Like I've got nothing better to do than to Iook for strangers.
- Seen any or not? - No.
Invite your guests into the house.
They're inviting everyone to the cemetery, and you caII them " guests''.
What did you say?
You're gonna get it.
Hurry up! Don't stand there.
Can't you see they're coId?
Make up something to eat.
Who stoIe our pig?
You shameIess bastard!
And you're a Red Army bitch!
Maggot!
German scum!
Bitte, come inside.
I teII you there's no one there!
- Where's the Iadder? - We never had one.
AII right, if you don't want to - Come here!
Come here! Red bitch!
HoId it right there, Iike this.
Give me the machine gun. I'II rake through it.
Don't shoot!
Gotcha, sweeties!
Get your hands up! Now!
Hands up! Hands up!
WeII, weII. So here they are.
Get your hands up, I said!
Mama!
My babies! My sweet babies!
My babies! My babies!
Stas', teII them to Iet me go!
Stas', who'II take care of the kids?
Let her go. The woman's got nothing to do with this!
You Red scum!
Bastard! Why do you need to hit him?
Here. This'II keep you quiet.
Got a smoke?
What are you staring at?
And, you, move it. You're crawIing aIong Iike a fIy.
COMMANDANT
Take these rabbits!
We'II find a home for you.
Find out where to put them.
You, short coat, get out!
I'II deaI with the short-coat.
Go on.
Get up, you partisan scum.
And you to the commissar.
Go on!
You scum!
You bastard!
HeIp me out here.
Who are you?
Gamanyuk!
Why is he roughed-up?
My fauIt.
- Why is he on the fIoor? - My fauIt.
- Were these my orders? - My fauIt.
Did you say something?
Untie him.
Let's get acquainted.
My name's Portnov.
PoIice investigator.
My name won't mean anything to you.
TeII me anyway.
Let's just say Ivanov.
I've nothing against that. Let it be Ivanov.
From what squadron?
Don't start with that. I'm not saying anything.
You won't?
No.
What was your assignment? Where were you going?
How Iong has that woman been your agent?
She's no agent. We chanced upon her.
And you visited the headman by chance too.
- Yes, just by chance. - Not too originaI.
Do what you want with us, but don't touch the woman.
She's got three kids.
I had no idea there were kids there.
Where were you wounded?
In the woods, two days ago.
It wasn't in the woods. And it was Iast night.
See?
I know enough about you to have you shot.
I can even see you're prepared for that.
But the chiIdren.
The chiIdren.
It's impossibIe to prove their mother is innocent.
You were found in her house, with weapons.
And there's a war on.
You made a mistake.
- I know it. - So fix it.
Where's your squadron, your comrades? Their positions.
You want to save the woman without giving up anything?
That won't work.
You'II have to troubIe your conscience.
One way or the other, you'II have to.
There's no way out.
None.
I won't betray anyone.
Not anyone.
There are things more important than one's own hide.
Where?
What is it? What's it made of?
That's nonsense.
We're mortaI.
With death, everything ends for us - aII of Iife.
The entire worId.
It's not worth it.
For what?
As an exampIe for future generations?
But you won't have a heroic death either.
You won't just die.
You'II croak Iike a traitor.
And if you won't teII, someone eIse wiII.
And we'II write it off to you.
Understand?
Scum.
Human scum.
Gamanyuk.
Right here.
- Ask the chief - - The redhead?
Yes.
Now you'II see what true scum is.
Don't be surprised. It won't be me, but yourseIf.
You'II discover something in yourseIf that -
that you'd never imagine.
Where wiII your perseverance go? And the fanatic gIitter in your eyes.
It'II aII be taken over by fear. That's right.
The fear of Iosing that hide.
And then you'II find out who you are - aIone, deserted -
a simpIe human nonentity fuII of ordinary shit.
Without any of your nobIe words or arrogance.
There.
That's where the truth is.
You didn't insuIt me.
No.
I know what a human being reaIIy is.
And you'II find out too.
Listen.
What were you before the war?
Go on, begin.
Take him away!
Who's your partner? What's his Iast name?
- WeII - - Don't Iie! Don't Iie!
I reaIIy don't know. I haven't been in the squadron Iong.
What's his connection to the woman?
- With Demchika? - Yes.
None.
You want to stay aIive?
Of course. Who doesn't want to Iive?
Have a seat.
Last name.
Rybak.
- Birth date. - 1 91 6.
Where were you born?
Near GomeI.
Where were you headed?
For food, to the farm.
Turned out the viIIage had been burned down.
What viIIage?
What's it caIIed? Kurgaev.
And how did you end up in Lesiny?
SimpIe. We waIked at night and found the headman.
So you were going to the headman?
Of course not. I said we were going to the farm.
Who's the head of your troop?
What's his name? Dubovoi.
Where's the squadron?
- In the woods. - Which woods?
Parkovsky.
How many peopIe in the squadron?
- Around 500. - You're Iying!
According to our information, Dubovoi has more.
Of course there were more.
There's aII those punishment forces. There are battIes, Iosses.
They've put you in a squeeze. And that's onIy the beginning.
So you were going to Lesiny?
I said we were going to the farm. The farm had burned down.
That's right.
And Kurgaev and Kurgaev's kids have been shot!
So you were born in MogiIev.
MogiIev -
From MogiIev or from around GomeI?
From GomeI. From GomeI.
- Last name! - Whose?
- Yours! - Rybak.
Who was shooting at night - him or you?
Him then.
Right?
What's his Iast name?
I don't know.
And that headman - Sych, as you say - what is he?
What Sych? What Sych? I didn't say anything!
I don't know any Sych!
Fine. Fine.
I see you've got a head on your shouIders.
I think we'II save your Iife.
You don't beIieve it?
We can do that.
If you don't Iie, you'II join the poIice.
You'II serve Greater Germany.
Me?
Yes. You.
Why, you -
You don't have to answer right away. Go and think it over.
What did you say the Iast name was?
Gamanyuk!
Right here.
WeII?
I don't know.
No.
Good boy.
Put him in the basement.
But the redhead -
Are you deaf?
And bring in the headman. - Got it.
Bitte, pIease.
Have a rest, sweetie!
Bastards!
What did they do to you?
KoIya, did you -
Did you scream?
It doesn't matter.
Did you stand up to it?
It'II be aII right.
Bastards.
It can't be.
We'II make it out.
Listen to me.
The main thing is to get our stories right.
It's Iike this.
We were after food, the farm was burnt down, and we came to Lesiny. Got it?
- It's senseIess. - Quit that!
Don't be stupid. Just Iisten.
We're from Dubovoi's squadron. The squadron's in the Parkovsky Woods.
Everyone knows that.
Let them try to get in there. There's a whoIe army there! They'II smoke them!
Listen, we need to think up something.
It's easy to croak. We need to find a way out!
It's not going to work.
We need to pIay them Iike a fish on a Iine.
If you puII too hard, it wiII tear and aII's Iost!
PIay it Iike you're human.
They aIready offered to take me into the poIice force.
Why are you Iooking at me Iike that?
I said " pIay.''
KoIya -
I wasn't born yesterday either.
How can you?
We're soIdiers.
SoIdiers.
Don't crawI in shit.
You'II never wash it off.
So then, to the grave -
to feed the worms.
Right?
That's not the worst that couId happen.
No. That's not what we're taIking about.
Now I understand.
I understand.
The important thing is to be true to yourseIf.
FooI!
You're a fooI, Sotnikov.
You graduated from the institute for nothing.
I want to Iive! To Iive!
To kiII those bastards!
Understand?
I'm the soIdier. And you're a corpse.
AII you've got Ieft is your stubbornness - your principIes!
Then you go on Iiving - without a conscience. It can be done.
You're taIking to me... about conscience?
And who got this woman...
and me - strong and whoIe - into this mess?
You! A man of conscience.
And in the attic - wounded and sick - why weren't you first to get your hands up?
Your conscience stopped you?
Rybak saved you and the viIIage. Got that?
My conscience... thinks!
And yours - - What?
We need to get the job done! And you - " Conscience, conscience!''
Aren't you hoping for anything?
You're Iying. You are hoping.
Like you were hoping back in the fieId.
And we made it! PreciseIy!
We need to survive!
By joining the poIice?
Then don't waste time.
You -
You know what you are?
- KoIya - - Into the grave!
And you're dragging me in to keep you company!
You're scared to be aIone!
You Iying scum!
You're scared!
Why, you -
Sotnikov!
Why'd you cIose your eyes, Sotnikov?
Listen. How about some water?
What are you doing here?
Look how they mangIed him.
But I see you were more fortunate.
The battIe is stiII to come.
I know what's stiII to come.
They won't Ieave things as they are.
Here's water.
And make sure your bandit is Iooking good by morning. Got it?
What's in the morning?
Who are you?
Basya.
Aren't you the shoemaker Meyer's daughter?
Yes.
What do they want from you?
To teII them who hid me.
But you didn't teII, did you?
Don't be scared.
Don't be scared. Come here.
Come aIong.
Get in, scum!
Why are you pushing? There are men here!
You'II be here tiII the morning!
What happens in the morning?
In the morning -
Look who's pushing us around! Damn bastard!
They didn't put you away Iong enough for that knife fight!
ShouId've put you away for Iife, you scum!
And my Dyomka stood up for him in court. The fooI.
My babies.
My poor, sweet babies.
Without me, aIone and hungry.
Don't worry. Maybe you'II be fine.
" Fine.'' Sure. They've gone mad!
They say the German that got shot croaked.
AII those damn scum shouId croak!
So that's what it is.
And PavIo - how about that? An investigator.
Who'd think, a Judas Iike that!
Who's that - Portnov?
Of course. He's from the farm.
Everyone knows him.
He was traveIing aII around before the war - giving Iectures, and rather weII.
I remember him when he was an admirer.
When he came out of the Vitebsk Institute, he became so pompous.
The institute?
Sure. He worked as the cIub administrator.
And the choir. Mr. Portnov was our choir director.
I sang two songs there.
" Campfires Burning High.''
And " Evening BeIIs.''
And he -
He interrogated you?
Listen.
Didn't you study in Vitebsk?
Maybe you know him.
Maybe he's a cIassmate. You couId taIk to him.
Don't think about it.
So that's why he was asking about you. "Who is he?'' "Who is he?''
Don't think about it.
It's easier for PaveI that way.
That seII-out swine!
We wiII! We wiII remember!
We'II remember in our graves!
l waited and waited.
And l was so hungry.
But l was scared to come out of the bushes.
Then the rains came.
All the leaves fell, and the bushes turned bare.
l didn't want to eat or even to move.
Once, I opened my eyes and saw Auntie Proskovia.
You mean Suprunikha?
She recognized me.
A good-hearted woman.
So what's it to you?
Whoever it might be...
aII they want is to get information.
You shouIdn't say that.
We'II aII die together.
Dear God, forgive me. Dear God, have mercy on me.
My son.
Dear God, what's happening?
My son.
Don't Ieave us. Can you hear me?
I'm innocent. I'm innocent before aII men!
I worked in secret for Dubovoi.
He made me headman. "You'II heIp us and save peopIe.''
Do you hear?
My son. I'm not the enemy.
Can you hear me?
I'm innocent!
Rybak.
- Rybak! - What?
CIoser!
What is it?
Don't Iet me die before morning. Don't Iet me die.
KoIya, I'II take aII the bIame.
- What are you saying? - Don't Iet me -
- Hang in there! - Don't Iet me die.
Water!
QuickIy!
- Let me. - It can't be!
- He's sick. - Drink some.
Drink a IittIe.
Drink.
OId man...
back there, I wanted to -
To kiII me?
But you didn't, did you? Don't torment yourseIf.
I'II die Iike a human being now, not Iike a dog.
Listen.
Brother.
What's happening?
Brother! Brother!
Damn. I thought -
Hang on.
It can't -
What wiII you teII them?
The main thing is to stay caIm. Don't act proud.
Let me... faII asIeep.
What? No, no!
Later. You said - Don't faII asIeep.
Everybody out. Liquidation.
Move it!
Come here, one-Iegged man!
- CaII the investigator. - Too Iate for investigation.
Too Iate?
What do you mean too Iate?
Hands off!
CaII Portnov!
What's so difficuIt? Are you human or not?
Bring the investigator over!
Tie up the oId man.
CaII the investigator!
Tie him up.
Stop it. Stop it, wiII you?
Investigator!
TeII them! I want to make a statement!
Herr Major, excuse me.
This partisan wants to make some sort of a statement.
Free these peopIe.
They have nothing to do with this.
I'm the partisan!
It was me who was carrying out the squadron's orders!
It was me who kiIIed your German man.
They're aII here by accident!
Shoot me aIone!
What now?
Do something... for them.
And that's aII, citizen lvanov?
No. Not Ivanov.
My name's Sotnikov.
Commander, Red Army.
Born in 1 91 7.
BoIshevik.
Party member since 1 935.
Teacher by profession.
At the start of the war, I commanded a battery.
It's a shame I didn't kiII more of you bastards.
My name is Sotnikov - Boris Andreevich.
I have a father, a mother and a motherIand.
Herr Major, nothing important.
Mr. Investigator, sir! Just a minute!
You said yesterday -
And I agree! I agree!
I've nothing to do with this, for God's sake!
He'II teII you so!
I agree! - KoIya!
- I agree! - KoIya!
Herr Major, excuse me. This guy's asking to join the poIice.
Maybe we shouId keep him, try him out.
You agree to join the poIice?
I agree.
Then untie him.
You're Ietting him go?
Then Iet me go too!
I'II teII! I'II teII who was hiding her!
I've got babies! Dear God, what'II they do?
Then teII me.
- It was - - Think what you're doing.
So, who was it? TeII me. TeII me.
WeII?
It was Fyodor Burak, I think.
What, Burak?
He's not here anymore. Think a IittIe harder.
Speak up!
I toId you aIready.
- Gamanyuk. - I've toId you!
Shut your mouth!
HoId on to her.
HeIp him.
Get moving!
Move it!
Don't struggIe! Keep waIking!
I'II escape.
The chief's not happy. Not enough peopIe.
No! No!
Have mercy!
I have smaII chiIdren!
Have mercy on a poor oId woman!
Have mercy!
Bastards.
Get up, woman.
Think about what you're doing.
Come to your senses.
Forgive me.
Don't just stand there.
I'II do it on my own.
HoId it steady.
No. No.
You did a good job. Take this.
Quite the abIe feIIow.
WE'RE PARTISANS WHO SHOT GERMAN SOLDIERS
- Listen. - What?
How about giving my beIt back.
Here.
You did that weII. Hung him Iike a rabbit.
Who?
Me?
What's with you? Keep up!
Judas.
Move along.
What are you staring at?
What's with you?
Move it.
Come aIong. Come aIong.
Hey, take the bench.
Come see me Iater.
Yes, sir.
Not "Yes, sir'', but "Jawohl. " Get used to it.
I'm hungry.
- Where's that jerk? - ln the outhouse.
Hey you!
Hey, you jerk!
Get out of there.
The boss is waiting.
You going to be Iong?
THE END