Review of Ashes and Diamonds (1958) by Eduardo C — 15 Dec 2014

Set during May 8 and 9, 1945, in Poland it is a time for celebration, but not for a James Dean like Polish freedom fighter who is just as opposed to the communists as he was to the Nazi's. He is not a robot but deeply conflicted about his mission and orders.

What transpires is incredibly violent and tragic even as the celebratory fireworks go off. Deeply mesmerizing and disturbing, it is about soldiers who feel duty bound to assassinate a local Communist leader.

When they assassinate the wrong people in a case of mistaken identity , much self doubt creeps in about the mission to try again to kill the leader, after all, everyone else is celebrating the end of the war.

Why can't they?? One of the greatest films ever made and the final part of a war trilogy by this Polish director.