early kubrick's love
in certain moments this film reminds me of kubrick's paths of glory...
there are a number of similarities (and with my experience on these boards) please don't ask me to list them as i dont have time for that :)
the reference that struck me was wajda's use of Ewa Krzyzewska... the way she was literally pulled by hand reminds me of kubrick's German singer at the end of Paths of Glory. she was played by Christiane Harlan who kubrick went on to marry. Now, Ewa doesn't do any singing in ashes and diamonds, that type of performance we see earlier by another character (though, in a somewhat different style for sure)... it is Ewa that reminds me of Christiane Harlan and i wonder if Wajda had Christiane in mind. as it is Ewa's character's name is Krystyna which is quite close. then again these are common names and could be a coincidence but by the way Ewa moved, her body language also reads Christiane Harlan. To me, this is a reference to Paths of Glory and isn't the other way around since according to imdb kubrick's film was made a year earlier, or at least before ashes and diamonds.
id be surprised if the above points were coincidences because i believe kubrick returned the compliment about 4 years later with lolita... the death of peter sellers character with the sheet and painting reminds me of Maciek's death with the bedsheet... furthermore, peter sellers play a piano tune which is exactly the same as the piano tune in ashes and diamonds... hmmm.
as for ashes and diamonds... its my favourite wajda film and find it difficult to convince others of watching it through... the first 45 minutes or so is very slow... and i think if some of the sub-plot was trimmed, and the pace was fastened a little, then it'd be better received... as for me, i dont have any problems with the slowness... i think this style complemented the quiet mood before the storm/fireworks/murder...
Carpe Diem