Directed by
Elem Klimov
Made by
Janus Films
In the year 1943, Flyora and a fellow Belarusian boy stumble upon an abandoned SVT-40 rifle buried in a sandy trench, fueling their desire to join the Soviet partisan forces. Their defiance of the village elder, who cautions them that such actions might provoke the suspicions of the occupying Germans, leads to unforeseen consequences. Their activities are soon spotted by an Fw 189 reconnaissance aircraft overhead.
The following day, partisans arrive at Flyora’s home to draft him into their ranks, much to his mother’s distress. Initially, Flyora finds himself relegated to menial tasks as a junior militiaman. However, as the partisans move on, their commander, Kosach, instructs Flyora to stay behind at the camp, leaving him bitterly disappointed. Overwhelmed with emotion, he retreats into the forest, where he encounters Glasha, a young girl serving as a partisan nurse. Glasha, who is emotionally fragile, mocks Flyora’s attempts at maturity, expressing her desires for love and family, essentially taunting him with the notion that he isn’t truly alive.
Their fleeting moment of connection is shattered as the camp is suddenly ambushed by dive bombers and German paratroopers, which leaves Flyora partially deaf and drives them both into the depths of the forest. As they flee, they experience intense psychological breakdowns, alternating between catatonia and bursts of manic joy.
In a desperate attempt to find his family, Flyora leads Glasha to his village, only to discover it abandoned and infested with flies. In denial of their disappearance, he believes they are simply concealed nearby and races off across a bog. Glasha, turning her head at the wrong moment, stumbles upon the tragic scene of executed villagers behind his former home. The two characters succumb to hysteria after trudging through the bog, where Glasha implores Flyora to accept the grim reality of his family’s death. Their turmoil culminates in a moment of aggression as Flyora pushes her into the water, though he quickly attempts to rescue her.
As fate would have it, Rubezh, a seasoned partisan fighter, finds them and brings them to the remaining villagers, where the village elder, scarred and burnt, relays the tragic news of Flyora’s family’s demise, reiterating his earlier warning against retrieving the rifles. Stricken by guilt, Flyora makes an attempt on his life by immersing his head in the bog, but he is rescued and consoled by Glasha and the villagers.
Later, Rubezh takes Flyora and two other men on a mission to raid an unsecured warehouse for supplies. Although Glasha promises to wait for Flyora’s return, he is overwhelmed with despondency. The raid doesn’t go as planned; they encounter German troops guarding the warehouse, forcing them to retreat and resulting in the loss of the two companions to a landmine explosion. A subsequent attempt to steal a cow leads to further tragedy as Rubezh is shot, alongside the cow, by German machine gunners.
In another act of desperation, Flyora seeks to commandeer a horse and cart from a local man to transport the cow, but SS troops soon appear. The stranger persuades Flyora to conceal his gun and jacket, leading him to the village of Perekhody.
As Flyora is hurriedly briefed on a fabricated identity, an SS Einsatzkommando, flanked by collaborators from the Russian Liberation Army and the Belarusian Auxiliary Police, besieges the village. Flyora tries to alert the townsfolk of their impending doom, but he is forcibly herded into a barn church with the rest of the villagers. The Germans barricade the entrances, and an officer commands the villagers to climb out through a window, leaving their children behind. As Flyora and a young woman with a child try to escape, chaos ensues, with the woman’s child being thrown back into the church as she is dragged away, setting off a horrific chain of events with the German soldiers engaging in brutal violence. A chilling moment occurs when a German officer points a loaded pistol at Flyora’s head for a photograph, before abandoning him amidst the smoke and flames of their destruction.
Discovery of the Rifle
In 1943, Flyora and a fellow Belarusian boy find an abandoned SVT-40 rifle buried in a trench. This discovery ignites their desire to join the Soviet partisans, despite warnings from the village elder about the dangers of such actions.
Drafted into Partisan Forces
The following day, partisans arrive at Flyora's home to draft him into their ranks. His mother is distressed by this turn of events, yet Flyora eagerly accepts the call to arms.
Initial Duties as Junior Militiaman
Upon joining the partisans, Flyora is assigned menial tasks, feeling sidelined compared to the other fighters. He experiences disappointment when the commander, Kosach, instructs him to stay back at the camp.
Meeting Glasha
In the forest, Flyora meets Glasha, a young partisan nurse who mocks his aspirations of maturity. Their interaction reveals Glasha's emotional struggles and her longing for love and stability amidst the chaos of war.
Camp Ambush
While attempting to connect, the camp is suddenly ambushed by German dive bombers and paratroopers. The attack leaves Flyora partially deaf and drives him and Glasha into the depths of the forest, causing psychological turmoil.
Finding an Abandoned Village
Desperate to find his family, Flyora leads Glasha to his village, only to find it abandoned and covered in flies. In denial about his family's fate, he believes they are hiding nearby and frantically searches the area.
Confronting the Truth
In a tragic turn of events, Glasha stumbles upon the scene of executed villagers behind Flyora's home. This revelation leads them to a moment of hysteria as Glasha implores Flyora to accept the sorrowful truth about his family.
Guilt and Attempted Suicide
Overwhelmed by guilt after learning of his family's fate, Flyora attempts to take his own life by submerging his head in the bog. However, he is rescued by Glasha and the remaining villagers, who console him in his darkest hour.
Raid for Supplies
Partisan fighter Rubezh takes Flyora and two others on a raid to retrieve supplies from an unsecured warehouse. The mission fails when they encounter German troops, leading to the loss of two companions in a landmine explosion.
Another Tragedy
Following the failed raid, Flyora and Rubezh embark on another mission to steal a cow, but tragedy strikes again when Rubezh is shot by machine gunners. This incident deepens Flyora's despair amidst the ongoing conflict.
Escape to Perekhody
In a desperate move, Flyora is advised to conceal his weapon as he is led to the village of Perekhody. As he is briefed on a fabricated identity, tensions rise with the arrival of German troops.
Village Siege
An SS Einsatzkommando surrounds the village, forcing Flyora and the other villagers into a barn church. Despite his attempts to warn the villagers of the impending danger, they are herded inside with chilling consequences.
Chaos in the Church
As the Germans begin their attack, chaos erupts when a mother attempts to retrieve her child from the barn. The brutality and violence unfold as the soldiers inflict terror upon the helpless villagers.
A Chilling Encounter
In a haunting moment, a German officer holds a loaded pistol to Flyora's head for a photograph, a grim reminder of the life-threatening situation. He is ultimately abandoned amidst the smoke and flames, left to confront the destruction around him.
Flyora
Flyora is a young Belarusian boy whose innocence is shattered by the violence of war as he becomes embroiled in the partisan struggle. He experiences profound emotional turmoil, oscillating between hope and despair, as he desperately searches for his family amidst widespread devastation. His character embodies both vulnerability and resilience in the face of terrifying challenges.
Glasha
Glasha is a partisan nurse who displays a mix of fragility and strength, reflecting the emotional struggles of youth in war. Her character serves as both a companion and a counterpoint to Flyora's journey, challenging his notions of maturity and love. Throughout the film, she navigates her own psychological trauma while attempting to cope with the devastating realities around her.
Rubezh
Rubezh is a seasoned partisan fighter who represents the experienced support system for Flyora. His character is marked by resilience and a sense of duty, guiding the younger characters through the dangers of war. While he carries the weight of loss and hardship, Rubezh also embodies the hope and camaraderie found amongst fighters in desperate times.
Time period
1943
The movie is set during 1943, a pivotal year in World War II marked by significant military operations on the Eastern Front. This period reflects the desperation and chaos of wartime, where innocence is lost amidst violence and brutality. The struggles of civilians such as Flyora highlight the personal impacts of global conflict during this harrowing time.
Location
Belarus, Perekhody
Belarus serves as the backdrop for the tumultuous events of the film, depicting the harsh realities of World War II. The village of Perekhody becomes a focal point of atmospheric tension and tragic events, portrayed as a microcosm of the war's impact on civilian life. The contrast of serene forests and the chaos of invading troops illustrates the duality of nature's beauty and the horrors of conflict.
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Loss
The theme of loss is prevalent throughout the film, depicted through Flyora's journey as he grapples with the disappearance of his family. This inescapable grief shapes his every action and emotional state, driving him into terrifying circumstances. The destructive consequences of war on personal relationships and family ties are profoundly explored.
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Survival
Survival becomes a central theme as Flyora and Glasha navigate the treacherous landscape of war-torn Belarus. Their struggle to find food, shelter, and safety highlights the instinctual drive to endure amidst chaos. This theme is underscored by the harrowing choices they are forced to make in their fight for survival.
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