Search - Ashes and Diamonds on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1958 DVD Release: 11/18/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White,Letterbox for TV Audio Tracks: Polish Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins Studio: Polart Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Drama, Political Drama, War Drama See Also: Ashes and Diamonds, Essential Art House: Ashes and Diamonds [Criterion Collection]

This is the last film in the trilogy that began Andrzej Wajda's career as a director. Preceding this wartime drama are Pokolenie (1955) and Kanal (1957). Once again, Wajda presents a strong anti-war statement, this time in the personae of two men who are given orders on the last day of World War II in Poland to murder a leading communist. The orders come from the part of the resistance that opposes the new communist regime. One of Wajda's favorite performers and a friend, Zbigniew Cybulski, plays the man who eventually pulls the trigger and kills the communist leader -- and the results are not what he expected. In 1959, Popiol I Diament won in competition at the British Academy Awards and at the Venice Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Zbigniew Cybulski - Maciek
Eva Krzyewska - Christine
Adam Pawlikowski - Andrzej
Waclaw Zastrezynski - Szczuka
Bogumil Kobiela - Drewnowski

Andrzej Wajda's masterful drama of two Polish soldiers in the waning days of World War II has been given a simple but strong presentation for its release on DVD in North America. Popiol i Diament (aka Ashes and Diamonds) has been given a letterboxed transfer at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono. The dialogue is in Polish, and the disc includes optional English-language subtitles. Bonus materials include a gallery of photographs from the film's production, biographies of the film's cast and crew, full credits, and advertising material created for the picture. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide