1958: Something OldAshes and Diamonds (Andrzej Wajda, 1958)I'm a bit puzzled that
Ashes and Diamonds isn't more of a favorite around here. It reminds me very much of Fellini's
8½ — not because they both culminate in tragicomic dances of death, but because they're challenging masterpieces with
Sight and Sound pedigrees that maybe demand too much of modern, first-time viewers, who seem to prefer Wajda's much more straightforward
Kanal.
Despite opening with an assassination,
Ashes and Diamonds is a slow burn, and through the first half of this rewatch, even I was admittedly restless, missing the poetic urgency I remembered from my first viewing. But the film burns brighter and brighter, earning it reputation as a brilliant symphony of hopeful despair that perfectly evokes the spirit of Poland in May 1945 (as seen from the late fifties) immediately after the Nazi surrender.
It's surely one of the most visually sumptuous movies of all time, with exquisite deep focus cinematography and rich, vivid art direction. That rich style, together with the confusing political climate and tragic romance, calls to mind a mixture of
Citizen Kane,
Casablanca, and the already-mentioned
8½. That's the company the classic rightfully keeps.
I watched this on Filmstruck, but I'll have to rent or buy the Blu-Ray soon because the movie cries out for a great commentary track or two.
Grade: A-
pixote