Episode 48: Larisa Shepitko's 'Wings' (1966) and 'The Ascent' (1977)

Larisa Shepitko is one of the greatest directors that many people have never heard of. In this episode, I seek to change that. I talk about two of her greatest films: "Wings" (1966) and "The Ascent" (1977). Shepitko died early in 1979 in a car accident at the age of 41. In her brief life, she created films that were concerned with the individual psychology of her characters and in raising moral and spiritual questions for her audience. She was married to fellow director, Elem Klimov, who made a short film about her after she died. It's called "Larisa," and I also talk about it.Warning: this episode contains spoilers."Wings" is about a Soviet woman who fought in the Second World War and who struggles to adjust to her more mundane life after the war. She is also haunted by the lover she lost in the war. The film explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and aching."The Ascent" is about two partisans--Sotnikov and Rybak--who are captured by the Nazis in Belarus during the Second World War. Sotnikov refuses to collaborate with the Nazis, while Rybak does collaborate. The film examines the complex moral issues of the war and extends sympathy and respect to all the characters.Sources for biographical information on Shepitko:Tablet Magazine article http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/175629/discovering-the-ascentThe Guardian article https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/jan/10/russiaSenses of Cinema article http://sensesofcinema.com/2017/soviet-cinema/1977-ascent-larisa-shepitko/Watch Elem Klimov's 1980 film, "Larisa":https://vimeo.com/49976137Select quotes taken from Svetlana Alexievich's "The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/540744/the-unwomanly-face-of-war-by-svetlana-alexievich/9780399588723/Listen on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.Subscribe to the Her Head in Films Newsletter to stay up-to-date about the podcast and to get exclusive content: https://mailchi.mp/cecae8692817/her-head-in-films-newsletterPlease consider making this podcast sustainable by supporting it on Patreon. For as low as $1 per month, you can unlock exclusive patron-only content: https://www.patreon.com/herheadinfilmsKeep the conversation going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herheadinfilms/Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ekphoraFollow me on Tumblr http://ekphora.tumblr.com/

Episode 48: Larisa Shepitko's 'Wings' (1966) and 'The Ascent' (1977)

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