Connor Monroe Carlstedt

December 3, 2015

A Thematic Comparison of Closely Watched Trains and Ashes and Diamonds

World War II left many eastern European countries in a state of political and physical

disarray. During this time period, and the years following, the Germans and the Soviet Union

controlled a majority of the region and the citizens of these countries were left with no say in

political representation. A pattern occurred as countries in east central Europe experienced

political liberation during the interwar period from 1919 to 1939, only to be oppressed by Nazi-

Germany during World War II, and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. Czechoslovakia

and Poland experienced this fate as both were dominated first by the Nazis and later the

communists. Nationalists that fought to secure political freedom were suppressed in favor of

puppet governments that favored the reigning power in Europe. A theme of political oppression

was central to numerous Czechoslovakian and Polish films released during the late 1950s and

early 1960s. Two films that showcase this theme are Jiri Menzels Closely Watched Trains,

which was released in Czechoslovakia in 1966, and Andrzej Wajdas Ashes and Diamonds,

which was released in Poland in 1958. Thematically, the two films are easily comparable with

only minor differences in plot or cinematic elements. The most prevalent similarity is that the

main character is a young male who cannot decide between nationalism and duty or his personal

desires.

The protagonists of Closely Watched Trains and Ashes and Diamonds have their personal

values pitted against the political liberation of their respective countries. In Closely Watched

Trains, a Czechoslovakian man named Milos begins working as a train dispatcher. His primary

responsibility is to monitor the closely observed trains that carry German soldiers and supplies.
However, Milos main concern is to have sex with a female and conquer his premature

ejaculation. Milos desires to achieve this feat believing that it will prove his manhood, which

parallels how the Czechoslovakians wanted to stand up to Nazi-Germany, but were not

physically capable. In Ashes and Diamonds, a Polish man named Maciek is tasked with

assassinating a pro-communist politician in Poland following Germanys surrender on May 7,

1945. However, Maciek becomes infatuated with a barmaid named Krystina and loses sight of

his mission. He is torn between starting a family and his duty of preventing communism in his

homeland. This brings up another similarity, which is the presence of a female that serves as a

foil to the main character. In both films, the woman receives a smaller portion of screen time, as

the focus is primarily on how this female character influences the motivations and actions of the

male protagonist. Milos is distracted from his job as a train dispatcher by another employee

named Masa, but due to his premature ejaculation, Milos is unable to make love to Masa. Milos

is distraught and even attempts suicide, which represents the feeling of hopelessness in

Czechoslovakia during World War II, as citizens felt powerless to quell the German forces. In

comparison, Maciek is immediately drawn to Krystina, but seems to be aware that he cannot

sustain his relationship. He continually reassures Krystina that he could possibly change his

lifestyle, but is painfully aware that certain things are uncontrollable. Such was the grim reality

of post-World War II Poland, as many citizens hoped that oppression from outside countries

would subsist following Germanys surrender, although the Soviet Union and communism

merely took the role of denying the polish people political freedom. As with numerous other

foreign films set during World War II, death marks the conclusion. In Closely Watched Trains

and Ashes and Diamonds the protagonists loyalty to their country results in their demise. After

conquering his deficiency, Milos is left with a bomb and is instructed to plant it on a German
train carrying soldiers and munitions. Milos is able to drop the bomb onto of the passing train

cars, but in the process he is shot by one of the German soldiers. The train explodes and the other

Czechs at the station stand by laughing as debris flies past. Similarly, Maciek accomplishes his

task by assassinating his target, but accidentally stumbles onto a group of armed soldiers who

murder him when he is set to leave town. The respective struggles of Czechoslovakia and Poland

are represented through a single protagonists actions and this theme serves as the basis for both

films.

In contrast, there are minor differences in the plot and cinematic structure of Closely

Watched Trains and Ashes and Diamonds. The most obvious difference would be the overall

look of the two films and the way they were produced, which is referred to as mise-en-scene and

is dependent on the directors overall style. Closely Watched Trains has understated black and

white imagery, with subtle adjustments to the camera work, and can be tied to the hopeless tone

of the film. On the contrary, Ashes and Diamonds is characterized by carefully planned camera

angles and panning. An example of this trait would be the scene featuring Maciek and Krystina

conversing in a church, where Wajda manipulates the camera to show an emotional imbalance

between the two characters. Another point of contention would be the difference between the

two protagonists outward nationalism for their countries. Milos does not openly despise the

Germans and is easily coerced by an older worker named Hubicka into sabotaging a train.

However, Maciek is outwardly loyal to his country, which he explains to his partner Andrezj, but

still shows remorse when he ultimately decides to leave Krystina. This leads to another

difference in the two films, which is the support the protagonist receives from other characters.

Hubicka sympathizes with Milos because of his willingness to help sabotage the train and sets

him up with an experienced woman to assist in conquering his premature ejaculation. In Ashes
and Diamonds, Andrzej criticizes Macieks intention to leave the organization and provides no

support despite their significant history together. The final difference would be the circumstances

surrounding the death of the protagonist. After assassinating Szucka and running away from

town, Maciek is shot by armed soldiers and slowly dies in a field of litter whilst trying to make

his way back to Krystina showing a hopeless outlook for the fate of Poland. In comparison,

Milos is finally able to experience sex only to die a quick death the day after. These points of

comparison mostly arise due to the differing directorial styles and do not adequately reflect the

struggles of either Czechoslovakia or Poland.

Through the medium of cinema, two directors produced films that provide a sense of

nationalism in their respective countries. Closely Watched Trains and Ashes and Diamonds offer

historical insight to their respective countries as both experienced a similar fate between 1939

and 1989. Both Czechoslovakia and Poland were incapable of resisting foreign invaders during

this time period and as a result suffered politically oppression from the Nazis and the Soviet

Union. The two films were released during the Thaw Era when restrictions in European

communist countries were being lifted, and feature a character that encapsulates the overall

mood of the citizens living in this region. A theme of hopelessness and the inability to control

outside forces is universal to both films, while an underlying sense of nationalism and duty is

also present. Closely Watched Trains and Ashes and Diamonds offer a glance at the oppression

many eastern European countries were faced with in the Twentieth Century.