Long established as one of Polish cinema’s supreme masterpieces, Wajda’s film vividly captures the turbulence and confusion immediately following the Second World War, as a former resistance hero turns anti-Communist assassin. Audiences were supposed to empathise with his intended victim, but Zbigniew Cybulski (dubbed the ‘Polish James Dean’) gave such a charismatic performance as the conflicted killer it seemed to crystallise the fears and uncertainties of a generation.
Reviews
“This final installment of the classic Polish trilogy is heavy in symbolism but remains affective and intimate viewing. *****” Empire
“Director Andrzej Wajda’s fusion of political allegory, human dilemma and noir style is remarkable, making Ashes & Diamonds one of the most important films of Eastern European cinema. The film captures a sense of confused, fractured identity and the effects of war’s tragedies on normal people” Laura Bushell, BBC
“Taut thriller [from the novel by Jerzy Andrzejewski] about immediate postwar Poland also has a heavier theme of the futility of killing and violence. Its technical knowhow, fine acting and directorial prowess make this an above average drama.” Variety