Viewing Guide to Ashes and Diamonds, by Andrzej Wajda (1958, Poland)

From you, as from burning chips of resin,

Fiery fragments circle far and near;

Ablaze, you don't know if you are to be free,

Or if all that is yours will disappear.

Will only ashes and confusion remain,

Leading into the abyss?-or will there be

In the depths of the ash a star-like diamond,

The dawning of eternal victory!

-Cyprian Norwid

Cast:

Maciek Chelmicki (played by Zbigniew Cybulski)-resistance fighter in Home Army

Andrzej-lieutenant in the Home Army and Maciek's friend

[Smolarski-member of workers' council at cement factory]

[Gawlik-worker at cement factory; just returned from labor camp in Germany]

Comrade Szczuka-Pre-war communist who spent war in USSR; has returned with Red Army to establish a new government

Podgorski-assistant to Podgorski and comrade from the Spanish Civil War

Drewnowski-assistant to Mayor Swiecki; associated with Home Army through currency trading

Porter

Slomka-manager of the Hotel Metropol

Major Staniewicz (aka Waga)-Major in the Home Army to whom Andrzej reports

Madame Staniewicz-Staniewicz's wife and Szczuka's sister-in-law

Marek Szczuka-Szczuka's son fighting in the Home Army group under the command of Wilk

Krystyna-barmaid

Kotowicz-the master of ceremonies for the evening

Hanka Lewicka-cabaret singer

Pieniazek-Reporter for the town's newspaper

Major Swiecki-The Mayor of the town; unofficially has been promoted to Minister of Health in the new government

Kalicki-associate of Swiecki

Major Wrona-Head of security in the Polish People's Army.

Setting: In and around a provincial Polish city on May 7, 1945

Scenes:

I. Maciek and Andrzej, members of the Home Army (AK), lie in wait at the side of the road to assassinate the Polish Communist Party functionary, Szczuka, who is on his way to make a speech at the local cement factory. Instead, they kill two workers from the factory. Szczuka and Podgorski arrive on the scene after the assassins have fled. Szczuka realizes that the "hit" was meant for him.

2. Town Square-Maciek and Andrzej are waiting for a delivery of cash from Drewnowski, who is increasingly skitterish about acting as a go-between for currency (and possibly arms?).

3. The Hotel Metropol-Andrzej and Maciek go to Hotel Metropol. While Andrzej phones Maj. Staniewicz to get further orders, Szczuka and Podgorski arrive. Maciek and Andrzej realize that they did not complete their mission.

4. Scenes alternate between Szczuka pacing in his room at the Metropol, Maciek in his room, and the Staniewicz household, with Madame Staniewicz and her guests in one room, and Maj. Staniewicz and Andrzej in the other room. Szczuka finally goes to the Staniewicz house to inquire about his son, Marek. Maciek observes a conversation between Slomka and Stefka, whose boyfriend (Gawlik) has been murdered.

5. Bar in the Hotel Metropol-Andrzej has returned, and this is the initial meeting of Krystyna and Maciek. Hanka begins to sing "The Red Poppies of Montecassino" in the main dining room, while Andrzej and Maciek stay behind in the bar. Pieniazek, the reporter, finds Drewnowski, whom Mayor Swiecki has charged with organizing that evening's banquet in honor of Comrade Szczuka. The scenes begin to alternate between Pieniazek and Drewnowski at the bar with Slomka, the hotel manager, welcoming the guests to the banquet. Pieniazek and Drewnowski burst into the banquet hall, drunk.

6. Maciek and Krystyna in his room at the Hotel Metropol. Andrzej comes to Metropol, but does not knock on Maciek's door when he hears voices.

7. Maciek, Krystyna, and Szczuka in lobby of the Metropol.

8. Maciek and Krystyna in a church.

9. Szczuka and Podgorski in Szczuka's room recalling time spent together during Spanish Civil War.

10. Maciek and Krystyna return to hotel. Maciek and Andrzej converse in hotel's bathroom. Drewnowski gets thrown out of banquet into bathroom, and then exits the hotel.

11. Szczuka asleep-receives the report that his son was found and captured as part of Wilk's "gang" (a Home Army unit). He is instructed to wait for Maj. Wrona to send a car for him.

12. Szczuka leaves hotel w/ Maciek in pursuit. Maciek kills him.

13. Maciek returns to hotel to clean up, gather his belongings, and meet Andrzej.

14. Maciek leaves, observing from a distance Drewnowski trying to hitch a ride with Andrzej, who does not know that Maciek plans to meet him. Andrzej takes Drewnowski's money, beats him up, and drives away. Maciek flees as Drewnowski calls to him. Maciek arouses suspicion and is shot by patrol.

15. Kotowicz (Master of Ceremonies) organizes a Polonaise (traditional Polish dance) to greet the morning and the first day of peace. The porter unfurls the Polish flag and hangs it on the hotel as the guests dance into the rising sun.

16. Maciek dies in field of rubble.