Ashes and Diamonds
1958 ‘Popiól i diament’ Directed by Andrzej Wajda
Synopsis
Maciek and Andrzej, two home army fighters, were paired and ordered to kill an incoming communist party cadre. At the hotel where their target's welcoming party is being held. Maciek meets the barmaid Krystyna and the two have a brief, passionate affair, before he is pulled away from this fleeting happiness into his deadly mission.
Cast
Popular reviews
More-
“So often, are you as a blazing torch with flames
of burning rags falling about you flaming,
you know not if flames bring freedom or death.
Consuming all that you must cherish
if ashes only will be left, and want Chaos and tempest
Or will the ashes hold the glory of a starlike diamond
The Morning Star of everlasting triumph.”
Cyprian Norwid's poem contains the life of this film all in a few short verses. It summarizes everything that Wajda wanted to translate to his audience. This is the third and final film in his famous war trilogy and while I personally do not think its the best of the three it is still a bold statement to end with.… -
Set mainly on one night in a hotel in Poland just after WW2 has finished, two revolutionaries plot the death of a leading communist who is staying there.
Zbigniew Cybulski is iconic as Maciek the would be assassin, but when he meets barmaid Krystyna he starts to have second thoughts, should he be stay loyal to his beliefs or try and make a new life for himself.
One of the most beautiful black and white films I have ever seen, set in shadow and smoke with light slipping in from cracks in windows giving the film a hazy atmosphere.
-
This is my first Wajda and I was pleasantly surprised at how stylish and loose the film is. Based on his films' usual content: the Polish resistance, wartime hardship, the bleakness of communist rule, etc., I had imagined that his directing style would be minimal and gritty. Instead, I found many iconic shot with lots of stylistic flourishes (the bombed-out church, the sunlight beaming through torn curtains and dilapidated doors, etc.) and an unusual lead actor in Cybulski. This casting was perhaps the biggest risk in the film and seemingly the biggest payoff as well.
I learned that Cybulski's swaggering, jittery performance (which earned him the title of the Polish James Dean) struck a chord with that generation of post-war…
-
After watching the rather excellent Kanal many months ago, I had high hopes for this film and while I can say that I enjoyed it for the most part. I can't say that I am left with an overall sense of fulfilment after watching it. The problem with this film is that it lacks a cohesive centre that is able to maintain the momentum that the film starts with, nor keep the viewer actively engaged enough to properly enjoy its excellently constructed conclusion. What we're left with is a meandering story that does nothing but drag for long periods in the middle that failed to maintain my attention throughout.
The direction is superb as you would expect from Wajda, with…
-
End of an era
Looking into the unknown.
Shifting alliances push for power
While the young search for meaning. -
A powerful post-World War II film and the conclusion to Andrzej Wajda's war trilogy. When confined to its limited setting the film drags and some moments seem insignificant, but the more it explores the natures of its characters and the state of a repressed country trying to rebuild, a tragic beauty emerges. More politically driven than emotionally, but its portrayal of post-war Poland is full of raw emotion, much of it coming from Zbigniew Cybulski's heart wrenching performance. Andrzej Wajda shows glimpses of magnificence - the beginning and conclusion are brutal stabs to the heart - and you can see why he is one of the great Polish directors.
Recent reviews
More-
Wow, Andzrej Wajda's masterpiece has stunned me. What a movie! Not for no reason is this heralded as the most legendary Polish film. A war drama of epic proportions, with a style that is supremely poignant, Wajda creates a beautiful, haunting piece of cinema that will resonate to any feeling individual. He does not answer questions, but puts both the sides on a weighing scale and without prejudice, dissects their motives, ambitions and fallacies. The closing 3 minutes aptly summarizes the overall, timeless brilliance of this movie, and the last 30 seconds are almost impossible to watch, even for the coolest of viewers. Cybulski is unbelievable. Heavily, heavily recommended.
-
Wajda revisits the past.
The drinking game of the dead -
Usually films about WWII, at least the ones I usually come across, usually take a very western point of view over the conflict. There's the odd German, or Russian film, but usually I only watch the English or American point of view. That's not a fault of me not wanting to watch other films, but usually these are much harder to find. The Polish perspective is one I know little about. So when I heard of Ashes and Diamonds, I was eager to watch it. While the film provided little on the actual conflict, it was a very interesting experience.
Poland, apparently, split up into many bitter factions after the war. This film focused on the battle between communism and…
-
Arvatavasti parim kujutlus sõjajärgsest (siin Teine Maailmasõda) elust, mida ma kunagi näinud olen. Tänu suurepärastele näitlejatöödele (eriti Poola James Deaniks nimetatud Zbigniew Cybulski) ning imeliselt atmosfäärikale kaameratööle annab see Wajda film ehk kõige veenvamalt edasi sõjajärgset õhustikku, kus sõda on küll ametlikult lõppenud, kuid inimeste võitlused ja kannatused pole kaugeltki veel läbi.
-
Movie #14 of Berkens 30 days, 30 countries challenge
Ashes and Diamonds- Poland
I expected this to be a pretty downbeat affair based on the premise and summary. This film is suprisingly engaging and fast pace. Sure the setting is depressing, but it is also hopeful and at there are even humorous moments. That paired with the beautiful cinematography and the focus on a topic that I personally had not much knowledge about made this a very enjoyable watch.
-
stunning
-
The shots sliding down the table, the fireworks, the low angles...
-
The film's strength is definitely in its look--the framing, the lighting, the crispness of the shots, the fluid use of the camera, and the jarring cuts. The sequence in the crypt is the real stand out, with the dangling crucifix offering one of the most striking and meaningful shots in this--or any--film. The story is also compelling--particularly the central character Maciek, who vacillates between love and murder. He knows that choosing one will effectively eliminate the other from his life.
-
After watching the rather excellent Kanal many months ago, I had high hopes for this film and while I can say that I enjoyed it for the most part. I can't say that I am left with an overall sense of fulfilment after watching it. The problem with this film is that it lacks a cohesive centre that is able to maintain the momentum that the film starts with, nor keep the viewer actively engaged enough to properly enjoy its excellently constructed conclusion. What we're left with is a meandering story that does nothing but drag for long periods in the middle that failed to maintain my attention throughout.
The direction is superb as you would expect from Wajda, with…