The Ashes

Popioły

Andrzej Wajda’s huge historical epic, unfolding across a large canvas, is an account of Poland’s participation in the Napoleonic wars.

  • Director

    Andrzej Wajda

  • With

    Daniel Olbrychski, Piotr Wysocki, Beata Tyszkiewicz

  • Poland 1965. 237min + 10-minute intermission (total running time 247min)

  • Digital (restoration)

  • English subtitles

This epic tale of the Napoleonic wars and Poles’ participation in them provides Wajda with an opportunity to consider thorny questions around heroism and patriotism. A young nobleman partakes in the conflict, fighting for Poland’s freedom while searching for his own self. Wajda worked with a higher budget and on a much larger scale to create this visually dazzling CinemaScope drama, which examines nationhood and national identity.

Restored by Fixafilm.

The screening of The Ashes on Saturday 28 February will be introduced by writer Michael Brooke.