Ashes and Diamonds

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Director: Andrzej Wajda

1958, (Poland), 1hr 43mins

Language: Polish with English subtitles

Presented by: Cinestudio in partnership with Central Connecticut State University’s Polish Studies Program

Pre-Film Welcome: Renata Vickrey, University Archivist and Community Outreach Librarian at Central Connecticut State University

Post-Film Discussion: Renata Vickrey (Central) and Professor Izabela Kalinowska-Blackwood, Stony Brook University

 

As World War II draws to a close, tensions erupt between the Polish anti-Communist resistance and Soviet-backed forces competing to shape the nation’s future. Tasked with carrying out a political assassination on the very day peace is declared, young resistance fighter Maciek finds himself torn between duty, desire, and the possibility of a different life. Often cited as one of the greatest postwar films ever made, Ashes and Diamonds examines the ethical ambiguity of victory and the human cost of ideological conflict. With its iconic imagery and unforgettable central performance by Zbigniew Cybulski, the film captures a nation suspended between violence and an uncertain peace.