Ashes and Diamonds

Andrzej Wajda’s best-known, visually remarkable film starring Zbigniew Cybulski.

Wajda's best known work, the final film of his acclaimed, unofficial 'War Trilogy', stars Zbigniew Cybulski (simplistically dubbed Poland's James Dean) as a former resistance fighter at the end of World War II. A botched assassination attempt makes him realise that the old certainties no longer apply, and the ensuing moral convolutions turned him into one of Poland's great tragic heroes.

Visually remarkable, its set-piece images include the famous scene where burning vodka shots symbolise fallen comrades.