Ashes and Diamonds (Andrzej Wajda, 1958) is set in Poland on 7–8 May 1945, the last day of war and the first of peace. This period of transition is one in which, the German occupying forces having been driven out, the Red Army is supervising the setting-up of communist central and local government. The communiques blaring from the public loudspeakers talk of victory, peace and a glorious future, but in ironic counterpoint to this, Poles have begun to slaughter each other. Certain right-wing elements in the resistance, the army and the aristocracy are attempting to undermine and change the orientation of the new communist government. These elements, seeking to make their presence felt, detail two young ex-resistance fighters, Andrzej (Adam Pawlikowski) and Maciek (Zbigniew Cybulski), to kill Szczuka (Waclaw Zastrzezynski), the new secretary of the local Communist Party, and his assistant, Podgorski (Adolf Chronicki). Andrzej and Maciek kill the wrong men and have to remain in the area for another chance. Maciek signs in at the same hotel as Szczuka and becomes involved with Krystyna (Ewa Krzyzewska), a barmaid at the hotel, to such a degree that he changes his mind about killing Szczuka. However, Andrzej convinces him that he should go through with it. Maciek kills Szczuka, but is himself killed while running away from some soldiers whom he encounters while attempting to escape.

The film opens with Andrzej and Maciek waiting to ambush and kill Szczuka. Wajda's handling of the opening sequence underlines the contrasts between peace and war, life and death and past and present which form the mainspring of the film. From the opening image of a church tower with a cross on top, suggesting peace and goodwill, the camera tilts downwards to pick up Andrzej and Maciek lying on a bank and enjoying a beautiful summer day. The singing of birds is loud on the soundtrack and a child with flowers for the altar comes to ask Andrzej to open the church door for her. At that point Drewnowski (Bogumil Kobiela), secretary to the local communist mayor but also in the pay of the right-wing group, warns them that a jeep is approaching.