The Ascent (Voskhozhdeniye)

MOSFILM

ART STUDIO THREE

THE ASCENT

Based on the novella Sotnikov by Vasili Bykov

Script Yuri Klepikov, Larisa Shepitko

Director Larisa Shepitko

Cinematography Vladimir Chukhnov

Hurry! Hurry!

Germans!

Punishment squad!

Germans!

Stay calm!

Rybak! You too!

Get to cover! Everyone into the woods!

Into the woods! Pick her up!

Ammo!

Sotnikov: Boris Plotnikov Rybak: Vladimir Gostyukhin

Village Elder: Sergei Yakovlev Demchika: Lyudmila Polyakova

Basya: Victoria Goldentul

Portnov: Anatoli Solonitsyn Stas': Nikolai Sektimenko

Village Elder's Wife: Maria Vinogradova

Sotnikov, let's move out!

I'll cover you!

Move out!

I can't -

Rest.

Just a moment. Just a moment, dear.

We'll get you something to drink, something to eat.

Krotsky -

What?

Get it out.

Get what out?

Whatever there is left to eat.

Well, that was good going.

So where are the sleds?

We should move on. Then we'll be okay.

We need to get out of here and find something to eat.

Then you'll be the one to get it.

We have to stay here a while.

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 children?

The families need to be delivered safely.

And without food, you yourself know -

It's still a long ways to Dubovoi.

A long way to go.

How about finding a boar?

We could feed everyone.

Pack up.

What, alone?

Take someone with you.

Stoptsov.

What kind of help could I be?

Right.

Matyushenko. - They're calling you.

What's going on there?

This weapon's jammed.

But I could go. Whatever you say.

No. Fix it so it shoots by morning.

Fine.

Is your weapon in order, Artillery?

All in order.

Kolya!

Say hi to Zosya!

Eat some snow. It helps.

Damn! Won't go away.

Can't do anything about it.

Why didn't you stay? Someone else could've come.

Who?

We're in deep now.

Used up the last of the ammo on some patrollers.

Doesn't matter. Once we get to Dubovoi, we'll have plenty.

You shoot pretty good.

Good eye.

Are you really from the artillery? - Really.

A regular soldier then.

Not quite.

How's that?

I taught math.

I graduated from the teacher's college in Vitebsk.

Math? That's good.

Walk in my footsteps. It'll be easier.

I've been meaning to visit her for a while now -

- Who? - Zosya.

My Zosya's there. She's terrific.

You've got girls on your mind.

Why not? It's not all just about war.

No, it's not like that.

Zosya and her folks are like family to me.

They hid me when I was wounded, and with the Germans all about.

You were surrounded?

They saved me, didn't give me away.

They knew who they were hiding - a company commander, after all.

A regular soldier.

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 feelings at all.

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 sleeping.

And in the morning, I hear someone breathing heavily.

I felt heat sweeping all over me.

Damn. I would've married right away if it wasn't for the war.

Is it still a long way?

We're getting close already.

See what I mean? Talking makes the road shorter.

I don't know about you

but I can't stand these lone assignments.

Even the easiest ones.

I'd rather make a hundred attacks, as long as I'm in the ranks.

But at night, the forest - It's hard, you know.

Maybe -

Maybe they... had time to get out.

Tell you what. Go on back.

I'll go on another couple of kilometers.

Can't go back empty-handed.

What the hell? I said I'd go alone.

You'll freeze without a hat. - Hats don't grow in the woods.

In the village, every man has a hat.

So I should snatch it from someone, you say?

Snatch it? There's always a way to talk to people.

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.

Actually, thanks for not leaving.

When there are two -

Well, let's move on.

Where is this damn village?

Are you the headman?

Well?

Anyone else here?

Just us.

Any Germans in the village?

Germans? No. There's only a policeman left behind.

Got a cow?

Yes.

So far.

You should 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 old man.

He did a stupid thing. - Keep quiet.

Take your hat off.

- Your son? - Our son. Our Tolya.

Is he with the police too?

No, for God's sake! He's at the front.

We don't know if he's alive or not.

Yeah.

You're a disgrace to your son. You sold out.

Put your Bible down.

Well!

Gripping like a - Let's go.

- Son. Son, dear - - Keep quiet.

Move it.