The Ascent

Play trailer

The Ascent

1977

1h 51m

Drama

War

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Two Soviet soldiers leave their starving unit to search a nearby farm for supplies. When they see the Germans have reached it first, they have to retreat deep into enemy territory.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Harrowing and bleak yet ultimately uplifting, The Ascent surveys the Russian World War II experience with a clear, compassionate eye.

Read Critics Reviews

Kat Sachs

Chicago Reader

Ascent shows a very different form of fear, one that is raw and galling.

Sep 4, 2024

Full Review

Wael Khairy

RogerEbert.com

Shepitko’s film is less interested in presenting a simplistic anti-war message and aims for something higher, spiritual transcendence.

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

Jennifer Dunning

New York Times

Though familiar, this is a fable re-created with an unabashed sense of grandeur as well as deeply touching humanity.

Mar 1, 2022

Full Review

CJ Sheu

Review Film Review

[Director Larissa] Shepitko demanded that every word, action, gesture, and camera movement be internally motivated, and it shows!

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

...a scarring B&W anti-war drama worthy of comparison to her husband Elem Klimov’s later Come and See...

Jun 13, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Shepitko etched her name in cinema glory for this achievement.

Mar 2, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Kezia N.

Absolutely 100%. It stays with you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

Full Review

Ronnie M

Powerful, real and brilliant .......Easily 5 stars or more !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

Full Review

Leaburn O

A very chilling Russian WWII film based in Belarus and focusing primarily on the reactions of various characters to capture, interrogation and ultimately to execution. One that will be difficult to shake and works as an excellent psychological and philosophical watch as opposed to an all out action war film. Watched on Amazon Prime.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

Full Review

Peter F

True masterpiece. Felt this film deeply.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/23

Full Review

Patryk G

Masterfully told story through visual metaphors and religious symbolism.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/07/23

Full Review

Michael M

A haunting, ethereal film by a director whose career would soon be cut tragically short, The Ascent expertly and poetically examines death and the moral and spiritual confusion caused by living in a world where it was omnipresent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/21

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Larisa Shepitko

Director

Boris Plotnikov

Sotnikov

Vladimir Gostyukhin

Rybak

Lyudmila Polyakova

Demchikha

Anatoliy Solonitsyn

Portnov

Mariya Vinogradova

Village elder's wife

Quo Vadis, Aida?

100%

90%

Quo Vadis, Aida?

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Quo Vadis, Aida?

Boy From Nowhere

100%

100%

Boy From Nowhere

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Boy From Nowhere

Kajaki

100%

82%

Kajaki

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Kajaki

Lone Survivor

75%

87%

Lone Survivor

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Lone Survivor

Tangerines

88%

89%

Tangerines

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Two Soviet soldiers leave their starving unit to search a nearby farm for supplies. When they see the Germans have reached it first, they have to retreat deep into enemy territory.

Director: Larisa Shepitko
Screenwriter: Yuri Klepikov, Larisa Shepitko
Production Co: Tret'e Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie
Genre: Drama, War
Original Language: Russian
Release Date (DVD): Aug 12, 2008
Runtime: 1h 51m

Most Popular at Home Now