Ashes and Diamonds

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Shioka O Polish classic. I'm still too young to get into the post-war politics in Poland. This is stylishly filmed, there are great cinematography here and there, particularly I appreciate the very last scene, the moment that the young man run into the laundry hanging outdoor and found his wound and blood, then sink into the waste. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Well paced post war noir thriller. Romance, political espionage and ambition get caught in the cross fires. Could swear that's a Polish Gene Wilder thrown in there too. The bar girl is bangin. Just grab her and elope you mug. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review William L A surprisingly broad range of characters find themselves wrestling with morality, ambition, romance, and purpose on the eve of victory in World War II, colliding in a mix of drama and dark comedy. It's a unique moment of flux, as government order, status, and the motivations that characters had maintained for years come under a state of revision. Its style is surprisingly very close to that of a noir thriller, despite the subject matter and Polish origin not being factors you would typically associate with the style - the crises of conscience, visual composition, inherent violence, and Cybulski's aesthetic are particularly slick. Adding in some thematic heft that would have been rather pointed given the conflicting support between the Polish Home Guard and the de facto ruling Communist government of the period, the film dives into a plot built on self-reflection and hard choices, understanding exactly what it is that motivates a character when conditions are less objective. Wajda creates a film that is pretty fluid when it comes to genre and inspired in its visuals, with a comprehensive range of compelling shots that each could be dissected; yes, sometimes the symbolism is a bit overt (the inverted crucified Jesus is a bit in your face), but the original outweighs the uncreative by far. Stumbling into a yard full of white sheets on clotheslines, revealing pooling blood as you go, that's great stuff. Of all people, Hayao Miyazaki cites this film as a personal favorite. That's not a connection I saw coming. (4/5) Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/08/21 Full Review Audience Member Amo las peliculas de Europa del Este en blanco y negro. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Another proof of the exquisit polish filmography out there. Really remarkable photography. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Reluctant assassin is torn between love and duty in post-War Poland. A film-makers' film, every scene meticulously composed. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Ashes and Diamonds

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