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Ashes and Diamonds

Original title: Popiól i diament
  • 19581958
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Popiól i diament (1958)
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War
As WWII and the German occupation ends, the Polish resistance and the Russian forces turn on each other in an attempt to take over leadership in Communist Poland.As WWII and the German occupation ends, the Polish resistance and the Russian forces turn on each other in an attempt to take over leadership in Communist Poland.As WWII and the German occupation ends, the Polish resistance and the Russian forces turn on each other in an attempt to take over leadership in Communist Poland.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Andrzej Wajda
  • Writers
    • Jerzy Andrzejewski(novel)
    • Andrzej Wajda(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Zbigniew Cybulski
    • Ewa Krzyzewska
    • Waclaw Zastrzezynski
Top credits
  • Director
    • Andrzej Wajda
  • Writers
    • Jerzy Andrzejewski(novel)
    • Andrzej Wajda(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Zbigniew Cybulski
    • Ewa Krzyzewska
    • Waclaw Zastrzezynski
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos141

    Popiól i diament (1958)
    Popiól i diament (1958)
    Popiól i diament (1958)
    Zbigniew Cybulski and Ewa Krzyzewska in Popiól i diament (1958)
    Popiól i diament (1958)
    Zbigniew Cybulski in Popiól i diament (1958)
    Popiól i diament (1958)
    Zbigniew Cybulski in Popiól i diament (1958)
    Jan Ciecierski in Popiól i diament (1958)
    Zbigniew Cybulski in Popiól i diament (1958)
    Zbigniew Cybulski in Popiól i diament (1958)
    Zbigniew Cybulski in Popiól i diament (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Zbigniew Cybulski
    Zbigniew Cybulski
    • Maciek Chelmickias Maciek Chelmicki
    Ewa Krzyzewska
    Ewa Krzyzewska
    • Krystynaas Krystyna
    Waclaw Zastrzezynski
    Waclaw Zastrzezynski
    • Szczukaas Szczuka
    Adam Pawlikowski
    Adam Pawlikowski
    • Andrzejas Andrzej
    Bogumil Kobiela
    Bogumil Kobiela
    • Drewnowskias Drewnowski
    Jan Ciecierski
    Jan Ciecierski
    • Portieras Portier
    Stanislaw Milski
    Stanislaw Milski
    • Pieniazekas Pieniazek
    Artur Mlodnicki
    Artur Mlodnicki
    • Kotowiczas Kotowicz
    Halina Kwiatkowska
    Halina Kwiatkowska
    • Staniewiczowaas Staniewiczowa
    Ignacy Machowski
    Ignacy Machowski
    • Wagaas Waga
    Zbigniew Skowronski
    Zbigniew Skowronski
    • Slomkaas Slomka
    Barbara Krafftówna
    Barbara Krafftówna
    • Stefkaas Stefka
    • (as Barbara Kraftówna)
    Aleksander Sewruk
    Aleksander Sewruk
    • Swieckias Swiecki
    Zofia Czerwinska
    Zofia Czerwinska
    • Barmaid Lilias Barmaid Lili
    • (as Z. Czerwinska)
    Wiktor Grotowicz
    Wiktor Grotowicz
    • Franek Pawlickias Franek Pawlicki
    • (as W. Grotowicz)
    Irena Orzecka
    Irena Orzecka
    • Jurgieluszkaas Jurgieluszka
    • (as I. Orzewska)
    Mieczyslaw Loza
    Mieczyslaw Loza
    • Smolarskias Smolarski
    • (as M. Loza)
    Halina Siekierko
    • Puciatyckaas Puciatycka
    • (as H. Siekierko)
    • Director
      • Andrzej Wajda
    • Writers
      • Jerzy Andrzejewski(novel) (screenplay)
      • Andrzej Wajda(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Citizen Kane (1941) - and Gregg Toland's cinematography in particular - was a huge influence on Andrzej Wajda at the time. Like Toland, the first thing the film's cinematographer Jerzy Wójcik did was convince production designer Roman Mann to include ceilings in all the sets.
    • Goofs
      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: Look. An old crypt. An inscription. "So often are you as a blazing torch with flames of burning hemp falling about you flaming, you know not if the flames bring freedom or death, consuming all that you most cherish. Will only ashes remain, and chaos whirling into the void." The letters are blurred. I can't read it.

      Maciek Chelmicki: It's by Norwid. "Or will the ashes hold the glory of a starlike diamond, the Morning Star of everlasting triumph."

      Krystyna: That's beautiful. "Or will the ashes hold the glory of a starlike diamond..." And what are we?

      Maciek Chelmicki: You - are definitely a diamond.

    • Connections
      Edited into CzechMate: In Search of Jirí Menzel (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Czerwone maki
      (Red Poppies) (uncredited)

      Music by Alfred Schütz and lyrics by Feliks Konarski

      Performed by Grazyna Staniszewska

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    some people have to change roles
    At its most basic, Andrzej Wajda's "Popiol i diament" (called "Ashes and Diamonds" in English) may seem to be a look at where Poland would be going after WWII ended. The plot involves young Maciek Chelmicki (Zbigniew Cybulski), who has helped expel the Nazis from Poland. With the Soviet Union now taking over the country, he is ordered to shift his allegiance to them. Through Maciek's acquaintances with communist leader Szczuka and barmaid Krzystyna (Ewa Krzyzewska), a potentially explosive situation arises.

    If you know nothing about how the movie got made, this seems to be the whole purpose. But there are other points. In a mini-documentary about the movie, Andrzej Wajda and his collaborators explain how the novel on which the movie is based had Szczuka as the main character. Wajda not only moved the focus to Maciek - and gave him sort of a James Dean look - but also stressed the scene where Maciek talks with the man who fought in the Spanish Civil War. Apparently, fighting like the man did is a Polish tradition. Therefore, the film likely appeals to the Poles in almost every way; the perfect Polish movie, if you will.

    Although I've never seen any of Andrzej Wajda's other movies - hell, I'd never heard of him until the Academy Awards gave him an honorary Oscar - I staunchly recommend this one. One can clearly see how he used the movie to subtly challenge the Soviet domination of his country (of course, they couldn't openly say anything against the USSR). Poland's pro-Soviet government had approved the movie, but didn't want to let it outside Poland. Wajda got some people to smuggle it out of the country, and it reached much of the world. Probably the most amazing scene is the end. I won't spoil the end, but I'll note that blood on a white sheet looks a bit like Poland's flag (a nationalistic statement).

    All in all, a great movie. Andrzej Wajda has every reason to be proud of it.
    helpful•22
    4
    • lee_eisenberg
    • Jul 4, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 29, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Poland
    • Language
      • Polish
    • Also known as
      • Pepel in diamant
    • Filming locations
      • Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland
    • Production company
      • Studio Filmowe Kadr
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • PLN 6,070,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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