Ashes and Diamonds (1958)

4 Stars (out of 4)

Rebel with a Cause

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Ashes and Diamonds on DVD.

This great film by Andrzej Wajda is considered the greatest Polish film ever made, and I'm sure that's not too far off the mark. Taking place just after the liberation of Poland at the end of WWII, several private factions still feel the need to fight. But the young James Dean-like Zbigniew Cybulski wonders why, especially after he meets and falls in love with a beautiful barmaid. The story takes place over the course of one day and depicts the failed assassination attempt of a new Communist district leader and the subsequent second try. The achingly charismatic Cybulski virtually makes this film work all by himself; after the film's release, legions of young Polish men rushed out to buy copies of his trademark dark glasses.

DVD Details: Facets' digital transfer has the expected film flaws, but they're not enough to ward anyone away from seeing this classic.