Come and See

Lore & Background

Elem Klimov co-wrote the screenplay with Ales Adamovich, who fought with Belarusian partisans as a teenager. Klimov had to fight eight years of censorship from Soviet authorities before he was allowed to produce the film in its entirety. The film mixes hyper-realism with underlying surrealism, and philosophical existentialism with poetical, psychological, political and apocalyptic themes. It is the last film that Klimov directed before his death.

Reader's Guide

Come and See has received widespread acclaim in recent years, particularly for its portrayal of the horror, brutality, and psychological damage caused by Nazi terror during the German occupation. Kravchenko's performance has been lauded as one of the best instances of child acting in a motion picture. It has come to be considered one of the greatest films of all time, especially in the anti-war film genre. The film received the FIPRESCI prize at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.

Did You Know?

• Klimov had to fight eight years of censorship from Soviet authorities before he was allowed to produce the film in its entirety.
• The lead role of Flyora was played by Aleksei Kravchenko, who was not a professional actor at the time.
• The film's original title derives from Chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation.

The Akhtar-Azmi-Kher Literary-Cinematic Dynasty

The Akhtar-Azmi-Kher lineage stands as one of the most layered creative dynasties in Hindi cinema, weaving together poetry, screenwriting, direction, and performance across multiple generations. At its center sits Javed Akhtar, a figure who has worn the hats of Urdu poet, philosopher, author, scriptwriter, director, actor, and producer. Javed's first marriage to fellow scriptwriter Honey Irani produced two children who both entered the industry: director Zoya Akhtar and actor-producer Farhan Akhtar. Honey Irani's own family ties brought Farah Khan and Sajid Khan into the picture as the Akhtar children's maternal cousins. Javed's second marriage linked him to actress Shabana Azmi, whose nieces Farah Naaz and Tabu added further acting talent to the web. Farhan's own second marriage to Shibani Dandekar, whose sister is actress Anusha Dandekar, extends the family's creative reach even further.

The Bachchan Dynasty: Four Generations of Screen and Stage

The Bachchan name in Indian cinema spans at least four generations, beginning with poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who married social activist Teji Bachchan. Their son Amitabh Bachchan became one of the most recognizable actors in Hindi film history, and his marriage to actress Jaya Bachchan produced two children who both pursued careers in front of the camera. Abhishek Bachchan went on to marry Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their daughter Aradhya represents the fourth generation. Shweta Bachchan Nanda married Nikhil Nanda, grandson of legendary producer Raj Kapoor, thereby linking two of cinema's most storied families. Their children include Navya Naveli Nanda, an entrepreneur who co-founded Aara Health and Project Naveli, and Agastya Nanda, who made his acting debut in the series The Archies. Amitabh's brother Ajitabh Bachchan pursued an entrepreneurial path, and his daughter Naina Bachchan married actor Kunal Kapoor. Jaya's extended family also includes actress Tillotama Shome, who married Kunal Ross, the son of Jaya's sister. The web of connections makes the Bachchan tree one of the densest in the industry.

The Anand-Sahni Web: Acting, Direction, and the Written Word

Few family trees in Hindi cinema intertwine acting, direction, and literary craft as densely as the Anand-Sahni cluster. Dev Anand, the family's most celebrated figure, appeared in more than a hundred films over his career. His sister Sheel Kanta Kapoor became the mother of internationally recognized director Shekhar Kapur, known for Elizabeth, who was married to actress Suchitra Krishnamurthy; their daughter is Kaveri Kapur. Dev's elder brother Chetan Anand had a son, Ketan Anand, and was partnered with actress Priya Rajvansh, whose brother Kamaljeet was married to actress Waheeda Rehman. The Sahni branch adds another dimension: Balraj Sahni was a noted actor, and his brother Bhisham Sahni worked as a playwright, actor, and novelist. Balraj's son Parikshit Sahni, also an actor, married Aruna Kapoor, who is Shekhar Kapur's sister, making him Shekhar's brother-in-law. Independent filmmaker Aalim Rushdy Anand further extends the family's creative footprint into contemporary cinema.

The Babbar Family: Legacy and Loss

The Babbar family's story in Indian cinema is marked by both creative ambition and profound personal tragedy. Raj Babbar, an actor who also entered politics, was first married to Nadira Babbar, daughter of writer Syed Sajjad Zaheer. Their two children, Arya Babbar and Juhi Babbar, both went on to work in the film industry. Raj's second marriage was to actress Smita Patil, daughter of Shivajirao Girdhar Patil. Raj's brother Kishan Babbar, a film producer, is the father of Kajri Babbar, who is emerging as a director. The family's story remains one of talent passed through generations, tempered by the enduring grief of Smita Patil's passing.

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