Come and See

In the picturesque yet turbulent region of Byelorussia during World War II, 12-year-old Florya lives in a small village surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills. A tranquil existence for a young boy, that is soon shattered by the all-pervasive terror of the war. Florya's idyllic days are forever changed when his family decides he should join the weary Resistance fighters in the forest. While Florya is initially bound by filial duty, he doesn't see the value in risking his young life in a brutal war. It's only after witnessing the systematic destruction of his village at the hands of the relentless German forces that Florya scours the woods in search of safety. On his journey, Florya stumbles upon a fellow survivor named Glasha, a young girl with no age-defined innocence, witnessing the atrocities firsthand. The girl's perspective sharpens Florya's, reinforcing her resolve to join the desperate fight against the invaders. Both travel in tow, with uncertainty guiding their steps, through a landscape laid to ruin. The couple's journey leaves enduring impressions, raising questions about the fragility of human existence amidst conflict and despair. Thus, the village of Florya symbolizes hope and youthfulness before the war; afterward, however, a shattered life leaves in its wake. Florya returns to his village at the stern insistence of his worried family, not knowing what fate awaits his home town. Before he arrives, his town has fallen. The heart-wrenching moment where Florya stumbles upon his village devastates the young boy. Expectation yields to reality: utter destruction everywhere that was once so sacred in his eyes. All that remains is deathly silence. That crucial decision, one which led his life down the harsh path of survival and pain, is where the true essence begins. The scene transitions into the isolation and terror which drives many onto the path of destruction, their state becoming detached from all they once knew. An arduous journey that tests the resilience and resolve of our young protagonists: those acts which challenge all expectations shatter them completely. For months, Florya struggles to grasp reality. As if numb, it takes him time to acknowledge and understand the despair that grips him under a relentless weight of an almost hopeless existence. Hunger, fear and the perpetual awareness of loss push him to cross unsavory lines. Florya faces intense hardships as day turns into night and hope for justice wavers through desperate times. Solace lies in holding on to Glasha, clinging on tightly as a drowning man clings to a plank. Fending for themselves against a backdrop devoid of comfort is all he knows. A series of brutal, unforgettable experiences tests the strength that remains within him. War sears an indelible mark into Florya's fragile psyche – leaving unbreakable cracks that can never be fixed. Throughout these trials, the frail child inside Florya still resists destruction at every step. With a resilience that cannot be weakened, he weathers each blow, convinced that his fragile soul must survive this harsh, inhumane cycle. It would seem fate hasn't relented to offer an easy escape, sending its all out against this child. Life becomes increasingly perilous for Florya - to save himself, he must harden in the face of it. Even innocence is tainted in this realm, forcing its subjects to sacrifice cherished heart and soul to defy destruction. Glasha's presence becomes his guiding light in dark and shattering moments – for himself and for her.