The Film is believed to be believe to be Andrej Wajda's war
trilogy, whichfollowed A Generation and Kanal . Before capitalism
and the market had theirevil way, it was characterised by a deep
sense of a fractured national identityand by an extraordinarily
sharp idea of how a tragic history affected ordinarypeople. This
story was set up in the days when German officials surrenderedthe
powers to the polish officials. The story revolves around Maciek,
the maincharacter of the movie whos a young soldier in the right
-wing Nationalist Armyand is ordered, at the conclusion of the war,
to assassinate the newly arrivedcommunist district secretary.
Maciek is a slightly natty Polish Hamlet who hasfought in the
uprising but is now uncertain about continuing to espouse
aninevitably lost cause against the left. He bungles the murder,
killing twobystanders. So for their second attempt he moves to a
hotel where thecommunist, Szczuka was staying. Szczuka was at hotel
in search of his sonwithout any security but the hotel Maciek was
fallen in love with hotelsbarmaid named Krystyna. Now the story
moves with the sweet love story ofMaciek and Krystyna besides the
mission of killing the communist. Maciekthough able to succeed and
killed Szczuka but was himself shot down bypatrolling military
persons. The movie ends up with the note suggesting thatits just
the ashes and no diamonds, remain at last.
Every frame emphasized recurring thematic elements before
bothering tocapture the action refreshing creativity to behold,
this movie by AndrzejWajda is presenting an anti-war statement. It
also reflects upon the conditionof society at that time. Through
Maciek the director prostrates the characterwho is full of
patriotism as he gives priority to his mission of killing the
leadingcommunist over the love of Krystyna. The scene in which
Maciek shootedSzczuka was perfectly done as the fireworks in
background signifies the end of
Submitted by: Ankur Meena
Roll no. : 10002043
8/13/2019 Ashes and Diamonds
2/2
Germans tyranny in the Poland ironically also it signifies the
end communistsin Poland as Szczuka was shot at that time. The black
and white photographygoes perfect. Moreover the framing is
impressive using bombed out and debrisfilled buildings, upside down
religious imagery and a constant barrage of closeups on sad faces
to paint Poland as a fallen land. Ashes and Diamonds is perhapsa
brave attempt film that evokes the oppressiveness of Polish history
while itwas still being written.References:
