Ashes and Diamonds (1958) Popiól i diament (original title)

Director:

Andrzej Wajda

Writers:

Jerzy Andrzejewski (novel) and
Jerzy Andrzejewski (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

29 May 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Maciek, a young Resistance fighter, is ordered to kill Szczuka, a Communist district leader, on the last day of World War II...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Killing | Communist | Resistance Fighter | Rain

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win

Cast

Zbigniew Cybulski	...	Maciek Chelmicki
Ewa Krzyzewska	...	Krystyna
Waclaw Zastrzezynski	...	Szczuka
Adam Pawlikowski	...	Andrzej
Bogumil Kobiela	...	Drewnowski
Jan Ciecierski	...	Portier
Stanislaw Milski	...	Pieniazek
Artur Mlodnicki	...	Kotowicz
Halina Kwiatkowska	...	Staniewiczowa
Ignacy Machowski	...	Waga
Zbigniew Skowronski	...	Slomka
Barbara Krafftówna	...	Stefka (as Barbara Kraftówna)
Aleksander Sewruk	...	Swiecki
Zofia Czerwinska	...	Barmaid Lili
Wiktor Grotowicz	...	Franek Pawlicki (as W. Grotowicz)
Irena Orzecka	...	Jurgieluszka (as I. Orzewska)
Mieczyslaw Loza	...	Smolarski (as M. Loza)
Halina Siekierko	...	Puciatycka (as H. Siekierko)
Tadeusz Kalinowski	...	Wejchert (as T. Kalinowski)
Grazyna Staniszewska	...	Hanka Lewicka (as G. Staniszewska)
Ferdynand Matysik	...	Staszek Gawlik (as E. Matysik)
Jerzy Adamczak	...	Maj. Wrona (as J. Adamczyk)
Józef Pieracki	...	Puciatycki (as J. Pieracki)
Adolf Chronicki	...	Podgórski (as A. Chronicki)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Juliusz Grabowski	...	Musician (uncredited)
Jerzy Jogalla	...	Marek Szczuka (uncredited)
Ryszard Pietruski	...	Worker in the Crowd (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrzej Wajda

Writing credits
Jerzy Andrzejewski		(novel)
Jerzy Andrzejewski		screenplay
Andrzej Wajda		writer

Original Music by
Filip Nowak
Jan Krenz		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Jerzy Wójcik

Film Editing by
Halina Nawrocka

Production Design by
Roman Mann

Costume Design by
Katarzyna Chodorowicz

Makeup Department
Halina Ber	....	assistant makeup artist (as Halina Turant)
Halina Sienska	....	makeup artist (as Halina Sieñska)
Halina Zajac	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Stanislaw Adler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anita Janeczkowa	....	assistant director
Janusz Morgenstern	....	first assistant director
Jan Wlodarczyk	....	assistant director
Andrzej Wróbel	....	assistant director

Art Department
Marian Kowalinski	....	assistant production designer
Jaroslaw Switoniak	....	assistant production designer
Leszek Wajda	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Bohdan Bienkowski	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Zygmunt Krusznicki	....	assistant camera
Bogdan Myslinski	....	assistant camera
Jerzy Szurowski	....	assistant camera
Krzysztof Winiewicz	....	assistant camera
Wieslaw Zdort	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Irena Chorynska	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Filip Nowak	....	conductor

Other crew
Michal Sosinski	....	production assistant
Zygmunt Wójcik	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Zespól Filmowy "Kadr"

Distributors

• Dan-Ina Film (1960) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Contemporary Films (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Force Entertainment (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Janus Films (1961) (USA) (subtitled)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Walter Manley Enterprises

Other Companies

• Ancona Films Inc.  sound
• Bellucci Productions Inc.  English Version
• Wroclaw Rhythm Quintet  music performed by

Also Known As:

"Popiól i diament" - Poland (original title)

Runtime:

103 min | West Germany:95 min (original: 108')

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | West Germany:16 | UK:12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | USA:Not Rated

Company:

Zespól Filmowy "Kadr"

Trivia:

After the film's release, sales of sunglasses shot up because Zbigniew Cybulski wore them consistently throughout the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Glasses of vodka are set alight which burn for an unnaturally long length of time and with a bigger flame than expected, suggesting a purer fuel was used in the film, such as petrol. Moreover, when the final flame dies (c.41 minutes) no liquid remains in the glass. Only the alcohol content is flammable in any glass of spirit and a residue of water would be left behind with even the very strongest of Polish vodkas.

Quotes:

Krystyna: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...
Maciek Chelmicki:...Or will the ashes hold the glory of a starlike diamond... /The Morning Star of everlasting triumph.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Falfúró (1985)

Soundtrack:

Czerwone maki

One of the best films I ever saw

Ashes and Diamonds is the film I have seen at least 15 times in my youth. I know it by heart as I was deeply impressed by the dilemma it depicts. Maciek remains for me the hero of illusions and disillusion. The small hotel of the film will be allways the scenery of personal and historical fate and the last scene will sum up for me always the eternal question of "quo vadis?"