12 year old boy who wanted to be a war fighter and take revenge on Nazi’s

IVAN’S CHILDHOOD [IVANOVA DETSTOVA]

12 year old boy who wanted to be a war fighter and take revenge on Nazi’s

         ROLES

              Ivan bondarev

  Young lieutenant Galtsev

              Katasonych

              Colonel Gryaznov

Ivan’s childhood, 1962 Black and white movie directed by Andrei Tarkousky, written by Vladmir Bogomolov and Midhail Papava.  It is the directors first feature movie. Movie based on 1957 short story named “Ivan”. The movie was actually another director Eduard Abalov project of Mosfilm, the Soviet Studio. Tarkovsky took the script, changed it accordingly to him and completed the movie. Movie described as  A visionary indictment of war, from a director who, incidentally, was about Ivan’s age at the end of World War II.

Expecting the story as a boy’s life, it gives the clear picture of a boys interest to become a war fighter. Story on a 12 year old Russian boy named Ivan Bondarev, who has lost his parents and wants to take revenge against Nazi’s. He was joined to partisan and later was put into Military school. But he escaped and joined army under the commander Gryazov. Ivan often gets different kind of dreams, where he sees his mother.

            Ivan often gets dream in which he be with his mother. Ivan hearing a bomb sound comes out of sleep, crosses the river by swimming and reaches the place where he meets

 Lieutenant Galtsev and informs to call number 57 at Head Quarters and inform I’m here. Galtsev questioned whom you know their, he replied Captain Kholin and Colonel Gryaznov and he called to the number informed. From their, instruction to him was to provide him a pencil and paper if he writes anything pass to them.

 Colonel Gryaznov who came their looking at him Ivan ran and hugged him. He asked you were said to wait near hallow tree where did you go, Katasonych waiting for you there. Ivan replies Nazi’s were there, I could not find our boat in dark, so I drowned into the river and asks is he still waiting near the hallow tree. Ivan coming to 51 Head quarter where Captain Kholin and Katasonich were presented, shouts at Kholin as he got information that he will be sent to military school. Informs I can be useful, I’m not going, if you force me to I’ll run away join Partisans. Kholin, finally orders you’re going to military school, Ivan request the soldier presented  there  to inform Kholin to say I’ll do good job, I’ll be useful, Military school or a children home same to me.

He leaves the place, coming near a bombed place finds an old man alone having a photo frame in his hand searching for a nail. Speaking with Ivan, he informs about him that his wife was killed.  Meanwhile Kholin and others, came their and took Ivan, promising he will not be sent to military school. A piece of bread and butter was left for the old man on the wall before leaving.  While moving commander says can’t you understand war is for grown men, but Ivan threathens him by saying “you promised you won’t issue the order. I’m all alone, I have no family left, I’ll run away if you won’t agree, I’m my own Boss.” Finally they decided to give up their thought of sending him to military school. But why does he want to join military, what happened in his life, for his parents remains suspense till yet. 

Other side Galtsev and kholin both interested on a girl Masha, a pretty army nurse. Misunderstanding arises between them but it does not affect a lot. Galtsev, Kholin, Katasonich and Ivan waiting in a room for war new’s Ivan was given some German paintings and when questioned on a person in painting, Galtsev informed he must be a doctor or a painter. Ivan tells, they have no doctors I saw them burning books on the square, pored petrol and set fire. Galtsev informed he lived about 400 years ago. They were informed, to be attend in a place. while getting ready to leave, Ivan looking at a knife of Galtsev asks it to lend him, but he refuses informing it was a momento for him. Katasonych informs I’ll get you one tomorrow and all three moves out.

   Ivan left alone in place, imagines he is in a war place and behaves like that, rings the bell, pushes table, hides, etc. Plane’s started to drop Bomb in those place, everyone running to hide. Galtsev returned to place informed Ivan do not get afraid. Ivan with knife “I’m not afraid.  Galtsev asks him “you were in Partisans why did you leave their. Ivan replied they sent me to boarding school, they’re wasting food. Galtsev informs you ought to go to Military school. Ivan got angry and shouted did Commander made you to say this.  Galtsev informs war isn’t for boys. Ivans’s asks about have you been to ‘Trostyanets, a death camp’.  Kholin returned, when he was questioned about Katasonych. Kholin replies he was sent to Head quarters.

            Commander Kholin informs them to get ready  and all three moves together. Galtsev finds Katasonich was dead outside. All three moving in a boat, behind the German lines in between many trees. Stops near by a tree, all three moving together, Kholin informs that he will alone and but Ivan volunteers himself as saying you are too big you will get caught. Kholin informs if you miss us meet us in Flyadorovka and Ivan leaves the place. Both waiting for Ivan, three of German soldiers appeared their both got hided and escaped from that place. While travelling on boat, shooting happened on them, jumped into the river and safely reached their place. Masha, the nurse came there to meet them, Galtsev informs she’s transferred to the War place hospital and she left. What happened to Ivan who was moved alone, remains as a question.

            Finally with the real news footage, added showing the War came to an end, everyone feeling happy, shouting, etc. Visuals of many German officials and their family’s dead bodies which were burnt by themselves committing suicide, children were poisoned, bombed buildings, etc.

 A group of soldiers collecting records of German military from the bombed place, Galtsev who was present there comes through the record of Ivan. Moves forward in search of something, finding a hanging rope on roof and Gelatin on other room, imagines what have happened. Ivan was placed in it and head was cut. Ivan’s Head fell rolling on the ground.

What happened to Ivan’s parents was said, but as of no visuals the thing does not get more grip into it. Who was the girl whom he saw in his dream, remains as a question.

 Ivan’s childhood, boy to become a war fighter to take revenge against his parents death.