Come and See

Lore & Background

Come and See is a 1985 Soviet epic historical anti-war film directed by Elem Klimov, starring Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. The screenplay, co-written by Klimov and Ales Adamovich, draws from Adamovich’s 1971 novel *Khatyn* and a 1977 collection of survivor testimonies titled *I Am from the Fiery Village*, of which Adamovich was a co-author. Klimov endured eight years of censorship from Soviet authorities before securing permission to produce the film in its entirety. The plot follows a Belarusian teenager named Flyora who joins a partisan unit during the German occupation of Byelorussia in World War II, witnessing Nazi atrocities and human suffering. The film blends hyper-realism with surrealism, and incorporates philosophical existentialism alongside poetical, psychological, political, and apocalyptic themes. It received positive reviews upon release and earned the FIPRESCI prize at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. This was Klimov’s final film before his death. In later decades, Come and See gained widespread acclaim for its portrayal of the horror, brutality, and psychological damage of Nazi terror. Kravchenko’s performance has been praised as one of the finest instances of child acting in cinema. The film is now considered one of the greatest films ever made, especially within the anti-war genre. In 2022, it ranked 41st in the *Sight & Sound* directors’ poll and 104th in the critics’ poll.

Reader's Guide

Come and See is a 1985 Soviet epic historical anti-war film directed by Elem Klimov, starring Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. The screenplay, co-written by Klimov and Ales Adamovich, draws from Adamovich’s co-authored 1971 novel *Khatyn* and a 1977 collection of survivor testimonies. Klimov spent eight years overcoming Soviet censorship to produce the film. The story follows a Belarusian teenager, Flyora, who joins a partisan unit during the German occupation of Byelorussia in World War II, witnessing Nazi atrocities and human suffering. The film blends hyper-realism with surrealism, philosophical existentialism, and poetic, psychological, political, and apocalyptic themes. It received the FIPRESCI prize at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival and was Klimov’s final directorial work. In recent decades, it has been widely acclaimed for its unflinching depiction of horror, brutality, and psychological trauma, with Kravchenko’s performance hailed as one of the finest examples of child acting in cinema. It is now regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, particularly within the anti-war genre. In 2022, the *Sight & Sound* directors’ poll ranked it the 41st greatest film of all time, and the critics’ poll placed it at 104th.

Did You Know?

• Klimov had to fight eight years of censorship from Soviet authorities before he was allowed to produce the film in its entirety.
• The lead role of Flyora was played by Aleksei Kravchenko, who was not a professional actor at the time.
• The film's original title derives from Chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation.

The Akhtar-Azmi-Kher Literary-Cinematic Dynasty

The Akhtar-Azmi-Kher lineage stands as one of the most layered creative dynasties in Hindi cinema, weaving together poetry, screenwriting, direction, and performance across multiple generations. At its center sits Javed Akhtar, a figure who has worn the hats of Urdu poet, philosopher, author, scriptwriter, director, actor, and producer. Javed's first marriage to fellow scriptwriter Honey Irani produced two children who both entered the industry: director Zoya Akhtar and actor-producer Farhan Akhtar. Honey Irani's own family ties brought Farah Khan and Sajid Khan into the picture as the Akhtar children's maternal cousins. Javed's second marriage linked him to actress Shabana Azmi, whose nieces Farah Naaz and Tabu added further acting talent to the web. Farhan's own second marriage to Shibani Dandekar, whose sister is actress Anusha Dandekar, extends the family's creative reach even further.

The Bachchan Dynasty: Four Generations of Screen and Stage

The Bachchan name in Indian cinema spans at least four generations, beginning with poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who married social activist Teji Bachchan. Their son Amitabh Bachchan became one of the most recognizable actors in Hindi film history, and his marriage to actress Jaya Bachchan produced two children who both pursued careers in front of the camera. Abhishek Bachchan went on to marry Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their daughter Aradhya represents the fourth generation. Shweta Bachchan Nanda married Nikhil Nanda, grandson of legendary producer Raj Kapoor, thereby linking two of cinema's most storied families. Their children include Navya Naveli Nanda, an entrepreneur who co-founded Aara Health and Project Naveli, and Agastya Nanda, who made his acting debut in the series The Archies. Amitabh's brother Ajitabh Bachchan pursued an entrepreneurial path, and his daughter Naina Bachchan married actor Kunal Kapoor. Jaya's extended family also includes actress Tillotama Shome, who married Kunal Ross, the son of Jaya's sister. The web of connections makes the Bachchan tree one of the densest in the industry.

The Anand-Sahni Web: Acting, Direction, and the Written Word

Few family trees in Hindi cinema intertwine acting, direction, and literary craft as densely as the Anand-Sahni cluster. Dev Anand, the family's most celebrated figure, appeared in more than a hundred films over his career. His sister Sheel Kanta Kapoor became the mother of internationally recognized director Shekhar Kapur, known for Elizabeth, who was married to actress Suchitra Krishnamurthy; their daughter is Kaveri Kapur. Dev's elder brother Chetan Anand had a son, Ketan Anand, and was partnered with actress Priya Rajvansh, whose brother Kamaljeet was married to actress Waheeda Rehman. The Sahni branch adds another dimension: Balraj Sahni was a noted actor, and his brother Bhisham Sahni worked as a playwright, actor, and novelist. Balraj's son Parikshit Sahni, also an actor, married Aruna Kapoor, who is Shekhar Kapur's sister, making him Shekhar's brother-in-law. Independent filmmaker Aalim Rushdy Anand further extends the family's creative footprint into contemporary cinema.

The Babbar Family: Legacy and Loss

The Babbar family's story in Indian cinema is marked by both creative ambition and profound personal tragedy. Raj Babbar, an actor who also entered politics, was first married to Nadira Babbar, daughter of writer Syed Sajjad Zaheer. Their two children, Arya Babbar and Juhi Babbar, both went on to work in the film industry. Raj's second marriage was to actress Smita Patil, daughter of Shivajirao Girdhar Patil. Raj's brother Kishan Babbar, a film producer, is the father of Kajri Babbar, who is emerging as a director. The family's story remains one of talent passed through generations, tempered by the enduring grief of Smita Patil's passing.

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