Ashes and Diamonds

Director Andrzej Wajda
Year 1958
Country Poland
Runtime 1h 43m
Language Polish
In Polish with English Subtitles
Format 35mm
TMDB View entry
Synopsis

A classic of post-war Polish cinema and the film that made Wajda known internationally. At the end of World War II, two Polish factions that have both been battling the Nazis begin a struggle for power. ASHES AND DIAMONDS takes place on the last day of the war, when soldiers who have fought alongside each other begin to turn and take sides. At the center of the story is a young soldier who is under orders to assassinate a high ranking communist official, and who finds himself in a battle with his own conscience. Striking both visually and narratively, the film is a poetic masterpiece that is a revelation still today. Wajda’s own deep losses and personal experiences of resistance in the war permeate the narrative, making this a war film that is heartbreaking because it feels deeply personal.

Listed at AFS

Archived on the AFS site between Thu, Jul 7 2022 and Mon, Sep 15 2025, across 4 captures. These dates are inferred from Wayback Machine captures and may not be accurate.

Thu, Jul 7 2022 Mon, Apr 22 2024 Tue, Jan 14 2025 Mon, Sep 15 2025