10 Movies and Shows Similar to Come and See (1985)

Description: While more conventional in its storytelling than 'Come and See', 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' shares a focus on the absurdity and futility of war. Both films depict the psychological strain on individuals caught in the machinery of war, though 'Bridge' does so within the framework of a more traditional war epic.

Fact: 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film's famous whistle theme, 'Colonel Bogey March', became a cultural phenomenon. Alec Guinness's performance as Colonel Nicholson is considered one of the greatest in cinema history.

Description: This Soviet film, like 'Come and See', portrays the devastating impact of war on individuals and families. Both films use intense emotional narratives and striking cinematography to highlight the personal tragedies wrought by war, with a focus on the home front and the psychological scars left on survivors.

Fact: 'The Cranes Are Flying' won the Palme d'Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. It was one of the first Soviet films to depict World War II from a more personal, less propagandistic perspective. The film's innovative camera work and editing were highly influential in Soviet cinema.

Description: Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, 'Ivan's Childhood' shares with 'Come and See' a harrowing depiction of war through the eyes of a child. Both films explore the loss of innocence and the psychological trauma inflicted by war, using surreal and poetic visual storytelling to convey the horror and absurdity of conflict.

Fact: 'Ivan's Childhood' was Tarkovsky's first feature film and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The film is based on a short story by Vladimir Bogomolov. Tarkovsky's use of dream sequences contrasts sharply with the brutal reality of war, a technique also seen in 'Come and See'.

Description: This Czechoslovak film, like 'Come and See', explores the moral dilemmas and personal tragedies caused by war. Both films use a deeply personal narrative to highlight the broader horrors of conflict, with a focus on the psychological and emotional toll on individuals. The films' endings are particularly powerful, leaving the audience with a sense of profound loss.

Fact: 'The Shop on Main Street' won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film is set during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and deals with themes of guilt and complicity. It was co-directed by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos, who were prominent figures in Czechoslovak cinema.

Description: Oliver Stone's 'Platoon' and 'Come and See' both offer a raw, unflinching look at the brutality of war, focusing on the experiences of young soldiers. Both films emphasize the chaos and moral ambiguity of combat, with a strong emphasis on the psychological toll it takes on those who fight. The visceral, immersive style of both films makes the horror of war palpable.

Fact: 'Platoon' won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Oliver Stone. Stone drew on his own experiences as a Vietnam War veteran to write and direct the film. The film's ensemble cast includes Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, and Tom Berenger.

Description: Like 'Come and See', 'Schindler's List' is a powerful depiction of the horrors of war and genocide. Both films use a stark, almost documentary-like approach to storytelling, with a focus on the moral complexities and human costs of conflict. The emotional intensity and historical gravitas of both films make them unforgettable cinematic experiences.

Fact: 'Schindler's List' won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Steven Spielberg. The film was shot in black and white to reflect the historical period and to emphasize the grim reality of the Holocaust. Spielberg refused to take a salary for the film, stating it would be 'blood money'.

Description: Similar to 'Come and See', 'The Grey Zone' delves into the moral ambiguities and existential despair of war, particularly in the context of the Holocaust. Both films present war as a dehumanizing force, stripping away humanity and reducing individuals to mere survival instincts. The bleak, unrelenting tone of both films leaves a lasting impact.

Fact: 'The Grey Zone' is based on the true story of the 1944 Sonderkommando uprising at Auschwitz. The film was written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson, who also acted in it. It features a haunting score by Jeff Danna, which underscores the film's grim atmosphere.

Description: Roman Polanski's 'The Pianist' shares with 'Come and See' a visceral, unflinching portrayal of survival during wartime. Both films focus on the individual's struggle against the overwhelming brutality of war, with a strong emphasis on the psychological and physical toll it takes. The use of stark, realistic visuals enhances the sense of despair and isolation.

Fact: 'The Pianist' won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and three Academy Awards, including Best Director for Polanski. The film is based on the autobiography of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who survived the Warsaw Ghetto. Polanski himself is a Holocaust survivor, which adds a deeply personal dimension to the film.

Description: Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse Now' shares with 'Come and See' a surreal, nightmarish vision of war. Both films use hallucinatory imagery and a disjointed narrative structure to convey the madness and horror of conflict. The psychological descent of the protagonists in both films mirrors the disintegration of moral and rational boundaries in war.

Fact: 'Apocalypse Now' was inspired by Joseph Conrad's novella 'Heart of Darkness'. The production was notoriously troubled, with delays, budget overruns, and health issues among the cast and crew. The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and two Academy Awards.

Description: This Hungarian film, like 'Come and See', immerses the viewer in the relentless horror of war through a subjective, almost claustrophobic perspective. Both films focus on the psychological disintegration of their protagonists amidst unimaginable brutality, using innovative cinematography to create an intense, immersive experience.

Fact: 'Son of Saul' won the Grand Prix at Cannes and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film's director, László Nemes, used shallow focus to keep the audience's attention on the protagonist's face, mirroring his narrow focus on survival. The film is set in Auschwitz and follows a Sonderkommando member over two days.