Ashes & Diamonds

(Andrzej Wajda, 1958, Poland, 100 minutes) One of Martin Scorsese’s favorite films, Andrzej Wajda’s masterpiece stars legendary Polish actor Zbigniew Cybulski in an unforgettable portrait of a nation at history’s crossroads. In the turbulent aftermath of World War II, resistance fighter Maciek (Cybulski) is ordered to assassinate a communist official. But after meeting Krystyna (Ewa Krzyżewska), he glimpses the possibility of a life beyond violence and must choose between duty, love, and hope for a better life. In Polish with English subtitles. With an introduction by Natalia Kaniasty, filmmaker and Assistant Professor of Film, Television and Video Production at Webster University. As the daughter of Polish immigrants, she offers a personal perspective on the film. Screenings of Andrzej Wajda’s films in the USA in 2026 are part of the ‘Wajda 100 Tour – North America’ project, organized by DI Factory with the financial support of the Polish Film Institute.