SIFF Movie Club: The Ascent

The Ascent

Soviet Union | 1977 | 109 min. | Larisa Shepitko

November 5, 2025

Shepitko’s emotionally overwhelming final film won the Golden Bear at the 1977 Berlin Film Festival and has been hailed around the world as the finest Soviet film of its decade. Set during World War II's darkest days, The Ascent follows the path of two peasant soldiers, cut off from their troop, who trudge through the snowy backwoods of Belarus seeking refuge among villagers. Their harrowing trek leads them on a journey of betrayal, heroism, and ultimate transcendence.

Introduced by SIFF Cinema Staff Member Adam Plesser.

Tickets

Select showtime for pricing and tickets.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

SIFF Cinema Uptown

6:00 PM

Director: Larisa Shepitko
Principal Cast: Boris Plotnikov, Vladimir Gostyukhin, Sergey Yakovlev, Lyudmila Polyakova
Country: Soviet Union
Year: 1977
Running Time: 109 min.
Screenplay: Yuri Klepikov, Larisa Shepitko
Cinematographers: Vladimir Chukhnov, Pavel Lebeshev
Editors: Valeriya Belova
Music: Alfred Schnittke
Language: Russian, German
Has Subtitles: Yes

SIFF Movie Club

About the Series

Celebrate classics and discover new favorites with SIFF Movie Club, a monthly gathering of film fans. Catch a movie on the big screen at SIFF Cinema Uptown, then meet up with fellow audience members at The Traveling Goat for a cinematic chat. We’ll laugh, cry…and add more titles to our watchlists!