Submitted by: Ankur Meena Roll no.

: 10002043

Ashes and Diamonds

The Film is believed to be believe to be Andrej Wajda's war trilogy, which followed A Generation and Kanal. Before capitalism and the market had their evil way, it was characterised by a deep sense of a fractured national identity and by an extraordinarily sharp idea of how a tragic history affected ordinary people. This story was set up in the days when German officials surrendered the powers to the polish officials. The story revolves around Maciek, the main character of the movie whos a young soldier in the right-wing Nationalist Army and is ordered, at the conclusion of the war, to assassinate the newly arrived communist district secretary. Maciek is a slightly natty Polish Hamlet who has fought in the uprising but is now uncertain about continuing to espouse an inevitably lost cause against the left. He bungles the murder, killing two bystanders. So for their second attempt he moves to a hotel where the communist, Szczuka was staying. Szczuka was at hotel in search of his son without any security but the hotel Maciek was fallen in love with hotels barmaid named Krystyna. Now the story moves with the sweet love story of Maciek and Krystyna besides the mission of killing the communist. Maciek though able to succeed and killed Szczuka but was himself shot down by patrolling military persons. The movie ends up with the note suggesting that its just the ashes and no diamonds, remain at last. Every frame emphasized recurring thematic elements before bothering to capture the action refreshing creativity to behold, this movie by Andrzej Wajda is presenting an anti-war statement. It also reflects upon the condition of society at that time. Through Maciek the director prostrates the character who is full of patriotism as he gives priority to his mission of killing the leading communist over the love of Krystyna. The scene in which Maciek shooted Szczuka was perfectly done as the fireworks in background signifies the end of

Germans tyranny in the Poland ironically also it signifies the end communists in Poland as Szczuka was shot at that time. The black and white photography goes perfect. Moreover the framing is impressive using bombed out and debris filled buildings, upside down religious imagery and a constant barrage of close ups on sad faces to paint Poland as a fallen land. Ashes and Diamonds is perhaps a brave attempt film that evokes the oppressiveness of Polish history while it was still being written. References: http://www.thefifiorganization.net/arts/film/janus/ashes-and-diamonds/ http://letterboxd.com/uncreativename/film/ashes-and-diamonds/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052080/