Ashes and Diamonds (1958)
Kernel Score: 83% · 268 ratings
Genres: Drama, War, Romance
Released: 1958-10-03
Runtime: 103 minutes
Where to watch Ashes and Diamonds
- Stream: HBO Max
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A young academy soldier, Maciek Chelmicki, is ordered to shoot the secretary of the KW PPR. A coincidence causes him to kill someone else. Meeting face to face with his victim, he gets a shock. He faces the necessity of repeating the assassination. He meets Krystyna, a girl working as a barmaid in the restaurant of the "Monopol" hotel. His affection for her makes him even more aware of the senselessness of killing at the end of the war. Loyalty to the oath he took, and thus the obligation to obey the order, tips the scales.
Ashes and Diamonds parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Ashes and Diamonds is a Polish war drama about a soldier ordered to carry out an assassination at the end of World War II.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — The plot centers on a planned assassination and the senselessness of killing at the end of World War II.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
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- The Pianist (2002) — 93%
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Director
Andrzej Wajda
Cast
- Zbigniew Cybulski as Maciek Chełmicki
- Ewa Krzyżewska as Krystyna Rozbicka
- Wacław Zastrzeżynski as Szczuka
- Adam Pawlikowski as Andrzej Kossecki
- Bogumił Kobiela as Drewnowski
- Jan Ciecierski as Porter
- Stanisław Milski as Pieniążek
- Artur Młodnicki as Kotowicz
- Halina Kwiatkowska as Staniewiczowa
- Ignacy Machowski as Waga
Ashes and Diamonds FAQ
Is Ashes and Diamonds good?
Ashes and Diamonds has an 83% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 268 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Ashes and Diamonds?
In the US you can stream Ashes and Diamonds on HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Ashes and Diamonds OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Ashes and Diamonds is a Polish war drama about a soldier ordered to carry out an assassination at the end of World War II.
What movies are like Ashes and Diamonds?
If you liked Ashes and Diamonds, try The Pianist, To Be or Not to Be, Kalashnikov AK-47 and Fury.