Come and See

[IgorVe]

Dear Mr. Deakins,

You’ve mentioned Come and See among your favorites – I fully support you on that. But I was shocked to learn that the lead actor now supports modern fascism and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It makes me question the power of cinema—if a film that profound couldn’t even impact its own star, are we overestimating its role as art? Or is this just a time when art is losing its influence?

Topic

[LucaM]

My humble opinion is that director’s ideas and desire to tell a given story are relevant, not actor’s aderence in real life to the role (but i agree that it’s  a delusion when you discover that an actor you admired in a role Is not a nice person). The message of the movie and the role of cinema will always be the same, while actors are just people faking something as a job, not heralds and champions of the truth. I wouldn’t mix the actor and the role (but of course Is a nice feeling when the actor Is in real life the Hero that he plays on the screen). Just my opinion, of course!

[Stip]

It makes me question the power of cinema

I think it better showcases the power of propaganda. The russian propaganda is telling their people that they are fighting Nazis in Ukraine, defending Russia from Nazism. So the actor may really believe that he is in the same position as his character in Come and See. Of course it is not true but that is what millions of russians are told every day since many years, with all opposing voices being crushed, and a large part does believe this narrative.

[IgorVe]

Stip wrote:

So the actor may really believe

Stip wrote:

Of course, he knows exactly what he’s doing – but easy money matters more.

It’s both absurd and terrifying at the same time. After all, an actor is supposed to “live” the role in order to perform it well.

So how can someone “live through” such a role… and still end up supporting fascism?

[quote quote=218175] The message of the movie and the role of cinema will always be the same, while actors are just people faking something as a job

I understand that – but my question is, what is the value of a cinematic message if it doesn’t even affect the actor who played the leading role?

It seems clear that the role of cinema as a moral guide may be somewhat overrated. In the end, it’s just another form of entertainment 🙁

[LucaM]

I don’t think cinema is just entertainment. Entertainment movies exist, of course, but there are also movies dealing with moral and ethical problems that also have something to say, not just make you spend a couple of fun hours. I think it for every kind of artistic expression, there’s space for entertainment and for a lot more.

[Stip]

It seems clear that the role of cinema as a moral guide may be somewhat overrated.

I don’t think it’s overrated, it’s not like you watch a movie and that molds your views forever. “Come and See” is still one of the most powerful anti-war movies but a single movie – even when you played the lead role in it 40 years ago – cannot negate decades of state propaganda that floods your everyday life.

[LucaM]

I see It in a simpler way. People have ideas and opinions. I’m interested in the ones of the filmmaker, since they should explain the movie meaning. I find less relevant actors’ ideas, but i am happier when they are similar to mines. Just my opinion of course!

[Roger Deakins]

Come and See refers to actual events that happened in Belarus during the Second World War. That brutal history has a legacy its hard for us to understand but that makes the film all that more relevant.

[Author]

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