Come and See

War should never be glorified, and this film certainly doesn't do that...

When I was a kid, I had this massive book called something like "501 Must-See Movies." It became my go-to guide whenever I was buying or renting DVDs. Over the years, I managed to watch most of the films listed, but living in the middle of Ireland, a lot of those DVDs were nearly impossible to find. Come and See was one of them. I always remembered the haunting image of the boys face, it's such a striking cover. You want to see what he see's, but really, you wish you never will.

This is a must-see film—not to enjoy, but to truly appreciate the craft. Unlike Hollywood films, which often carry a polished, produced sheen, European cinema tends to embrace a grittier, more raw approach, and this movie is a brutal, perfect example of that difference. It feels less like a film and more like a documentary, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Some scenes are so unfiltered and visceral that I had to remind myself: This is a movie. These are actors. Whether that’s good or bad, given the film’s harrowing subject, is hard to say.

Either way, it’s undeniably a masterpiece of filmmaking. I’m glad I finally got around to watching it after all these years—but after seeing what that boy has seen, I’m equally glad I’ll never have to watch it again.