Ashes and Diamonds

Movie

1958

1h 43m

Not Rated

Polish

Drama, Romance, War

User Score:

7.8

Critic Score:

Watch on The Criterion Channel

Play Trailer

Ashes and Diamonds

Not Rated

Movie

1958

1h 43m

Polish

Drama, Romance, War

Play Trailer

Watch on The Criterion Channel

A young academy soldier, Maciek Chelmicki, is ordered to shoot the secretary of the KW PPR. A coincidence causes him to kill someone else. Meeting face to face with his victim, he gets a shock. He faces the necessity of repeating the assassination. He meets Krystyna, a girl working as a barmaid in the restaurant of the "Monopol" hotel. His affection for her makes him even more aware of the senselessness of killing at the end of the war. Loyalty to the oath he took, and thus the obligation to obey the order, tips the scales.

WATCHMODE

7.8

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

Where to watch

Available in 2 other countries.

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Cast

Maciek Chełmicki

Krystyna Rozbicka

Szczuka

Andrzej Kossecki

Drewnowski

Porter

Pieniążek

Kotowicz

Staniewiczowa

Waga

Slomka

Stefka

Święcki

Lili

Jurgieluszka

Puciatycka

Hanka Lewicka

Maj. Wrona

Podgórski

Franek Pawlicki

Smolarski

Wejchert

Staszek Gawlik

Puciatycki

Musician (uncredited)

Directed By: Andrzej Wajda

Written By: Andrzej Wajda (Screenplay), Jerzy Andrzejewski (Screenplay), + 1 more

Featured Comments/Tips

soonertbone says...

4 months ago

Thrilling opening sequence, beautiful cinematography throughout. The lead character oozed charisma, he was like a Polish James Dean in that jacket. I don't think I saw this in a version that had the best subtitles, as the action on screen sometimes felt a little opaque (although some of that surely was intended?) Overall I wanted to like this more than I did, and would want to rewatch with better subtitles.

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Maarten Delfgou says...

3 years ago

The original title of the film is Popiól i Diament.

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Featured User Reviews

badelf

2 years ago

There are so many great things about how this movie is made - the directing, the shots, the tonal quality, and the pacing. Probably most brilliant of all is how the total makes the viewer feel claustophobic. I admit, though, it's a tad dated.

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badelf

2 years ago

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