Ashes and Diamonds

Rural Poland, on the last day of World War II. The Nazis have surrendered, and the Red Army has criss-crossed the country. With the battle against the Nazis over, a new struggle emerges: the struggle against the Communists. A group of Polish patriots boldly set out to assassinate a mid-level Communist party functionary. Maciek, a James Dean in dark glasses, is the trigger-man. But when he spots a gorgeous blonde behind the bar, his priorities change...

Ashes and Diamonds is a visionary work. Zbigniew Cybulski, who plays Maciek, delivers one of the most startling breakthrough performances in film history - embodying both the savage beauty and the perplexed desire of his generation. Ashes and Diamonds is often compared with Citizen Kane. Both films contain amazing layers of story, imagery, and sound, and capture the political concern of a country in galvanic transformation.

Ashes and Diamonds was the feature film directed by Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival-winner Andrzej Wajda. It is the third part of Wajda's acclaimed "war trilogy," which also includes A Generation and Kanal.