ASHES & DIAMONDS Blu-ray Review

I know nothing about the Polish new wave cinema of the '50s and '60s apart from a few names I've picked up over the years.  In fact, the closest I've come to this genre is reviewing Jerzy Skolimowski's English language film, Deep End, a few months back.  However, viewing Andrzej Wajda's Ashes & Diamonds was a real treat and hopefully indicative of more Polish goodness in my future. The film takes a look at a time and space in Poland that is little known in this country, and does it in a gripping and artfully paced manner.  Arrow Academy's Blu-ray presentation of Ashes & Diamonds is a solid, but not perfect, presentation of this classic of world cinema. 

The entire film takes place on 8 May 1945, when the war in Europe ended with Germany's formal surrender - but while other countries celebrated, Poland's postwar power struggle was only just beginning. In depicting the various factions jockeying for position, including ambitious Communists, aristocratic patriots, cynical journalists and anti-Nazi rebels recently emerged from the Warsaw sewers, Wajda brilliantly anatomises a riven country desperately trying to find its identity at a time when a fifth of its population had recently been killed and many more driven into exile. Maciek Chelmicki (Zbigniew Cybulski) embodies this conflict: outwardly a calculating assassin, his ultra-cool façade begins to crack when he badly botches a mission, falls in love with the barmaid Krystyna (Ewa Krzyzewska) and dares to dream of a life outside the armed resistance that's characterised his entire adult life. His all too human indecision makes him Polish culture's Hamlet, and Cybulski's performance remains iconic to this day.

As the above synopsis makes clear, if there is anything to recommend this film to cinephiles, it is the iconic performance of Zbigniew Cybulski as Maciek. Cybulski's super cool performance as a twenty something rebel roped into an assassination gone wrong.  His marvelous approach to the character, with his James Dean jacket and cool shades, is unforgettable, and brings Ashes & Diamonds into the pantheon of internationally acclaimed war films.

Director Andrzej Wajda was among the leaders of this Polish wave, a movement that produced such artists as Skolimowski and Roman Polanski. This film, part of a thematic trilogy from Wajda about the end of World War II and its effects on a now broken Poland, is a crucial look into the aftermath of the Nazi occupation and the counter attack from the Allied forces and the effect all of this had in shattering an already fragile Poland.  The country is still in recovery from that battle, followed by years of communism, and a very fractious political climate.

All of those fears about what was to become of Poland in the late 40's are personified by the young, cool visage of Cybulski.  A man seemingly without a care, however, behind those sunglasses is a fragile, frightened man who fears for his future.  Cybulski died too young in a train accident, but left behind several films which I will now hunt down after seeing this marvelous performance.  Andrzej Wajda hasn't made a film that made this kind of impact in many years, but sometimes it only takes a couple to make a legend, and if these are the laurels on which he must rest, he could do worse.

The Disc:

Arrow Academy's last Blu-ray/DVD Dual Format package was the superlative Rififi disc.  That is a high standard to set, and they don't quite reach it with Ashes & Diamonds.  The image quality on this disc is not as perfect as the Rififi disc, there is some evidence of DNR or very mild manipulation.  It is much better than the DVD presentations I've sampled, but not as good as it could be.  The audio fares much better, with the Academy disc utilizing an LPCM 2.0 uncompressed soundtrack that is very clear and distinct.  This is an above average presentation of a classic title, but not a perfect one.

The disc has several notable extra features, many of them physical in nature.  On the disc is a lengthy interview with Wajda regarding this film and it's genesis and production that is very interesting and delves into the political climate of Poland at the time as well as giving some context for parts of the film that non-Poles might miss.  Also included is an outstanding booklet with an essay from Michael Brooke as well as several other standout pieces that are really worth checking out. Last, there is the awesome custom cover art that Arrow has made a part of their premium brands. Ashes & Diamonds art is fantastic, and the disc compiles 3 alternative pieces for display if desired. 

Ashes & Diamonds is an outstanding film that holds up even if you don't know the history of Poland by heart.  Arrow Academy presents the film with materials to help contextualize the film and boost appreciation notably. I know their is a Polish Blu-ray out there, but I haven't seen it, but I can say that this is a great presentation of the film unlikely to be surpassed until Criterion takes a stab at it.  Recommended.