Diamonds of the Night
1964·Drama·1h 7m
7.1
★
Two Jewish boys escape from a train transporting them from one concentration camp to another. Beyond themes of war and anti-Nazism, the film concerns itself with man's struggle to preserve human dignity.
Directed by Jan Němec
holocaust (shoah)
world war ii
based on short story
children in wartime
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Vladimír Pucholt
The Second (voice)
Crew
Jan Němec
Director
Jan Němec
Screenplay
Miroslav Ondříček
Camera Operator
Hynek Bočan
First Assistant Director
Ester Krumbachová
Costume Design
Popular Reviews
72 reviews
louisa
8.0★ · 07/10/26
a very heartbreaking account of a fragment of two jewish boys lives in wartime. on the run from nazis after escaping a train headed to the concentration camp, we see the boys suffer from starvation, hallucinations and attacks. the illusions make the film very powerful - the boys grapple with memory and grief of an old life
that is just out of reach now, lust, regret and thoughts of violence.
there is one small act of kindness - a woman gives them a slice of bread to share. it was very poignant for such a minor act to mean so much.
the opening shot of the boys running from the train with shouts of ‘halt’ in the background are really impressive, and apparently one of the first films of its time to have such an advanced shot. i thought this was a devastating film - especially the ending too: are they shot, are they sent to trial, or are they set free? we never know.
that is just out of reach now, lust, regret and thoughts of violence.
there is one small act of kindness - a woman gives them a slice of bread to share. it was very poignant for such a minor act to mean so much.
the opening shot of the boys running from the train with shouts of ‘halt’ in the background are really impressive, and apparently one of the first films of its time to have such an advanced shot. i thought this was a devastating film - especially the ending too: are they shot, are they sent to trial, or are they set free? we never know.
a very heartbreaking account of a fragment of two jewish boys lives in wartime. on the run from nazis after escaping a train headed to the concentration camp, we see the boys suffer from starvation, hallucinations and attacks. the illusions make the film very powerful - the boys grapple with memory and grief of an old life
that is just out of reach now, lust, regret and thoughts of violence.
there is one small act of kindness - a woman gives them a slice of bread to share. it was very poignant for such a minor act to mean so much.
the opening shot of the boys running from the train with shouts of ‘halt’ in the background are really impressive, and apparently one of the first films of its time to have such an advanced shot. i thought this was a devastating film - especially the ending too: are they shot, are they sent to trial, or are they set free? we never know.
that is just out of reach now, lust, regret and thoughts of violence.
there is one small act of kindness - a woman gives them a slice of bread to share. it was very poignant for such a minor act to mean so much.
the opening shot of the boys running from the train with shouts of ‘halt’ in the background are really impressive, and apparently one of the first films of its time to have such an advanced shot. i thought this was a devastating film - especially the ending too: are they shot, are they sent to trial, or are they set free? we never know.
Rares Bejusca
4.0★ · 06/02/26
The film follows 2 teenagers who escaped from a Nazi transport train during WW2. Most of the movie consists of their desperate attempt to survive while fleeing through forests and villages.
The plot is minimal, rather than focused on conventional story, Nemec focuses on fear, hunger, exhaustion, memory and trauma
Unlike Hollywood war films, there are no heroes, battles, or speeches. The film is more about what war feels like from the perspective of frightened teenagers.
The plot is minimal, rather than focused on conventional story, Nemec focuses on fear, hunger, exhaustion, memory and trauma
Unlike Hollywood war films, there are no heroes, battles, or speeches. The film is more about what war feels like from the perspective of frightened teenagers.
The film follows 2 teenagers who escaped from a Nazi transport train during WW2. Most of the movie consists of their desperate attempt to survive while fleeing through forests and villages.
The plot is minimal, rather than focused on conventional story, Nemec focuses on fear, hunger, exhaustion, memory and trauma
Unlike Hollywood war films, there are no heroes, battles, or speeches. The film is more about what war feels like from the perspective of frightened teenagers.
The plot is minimal, rather than focused on conventional story, Nemec focuses on fear, hunger, exhaustion, memory and trauma
Unlike Hollywood war films, there are no heroes, battles, or speeches. The film is more about what war feels like from the perspective of frightened teenagers.
Minnie
10.0★ · 03/06/26
Un film rempli de réalité distordue, de réel et d’irréel..
c’est flou, même très flou mais c’est en même temps terriblement touchant.
La partie avec les vieux m’a mise vraiment mal à l’aise..
Sinon, c’est un film tellement auditif dans tous les petits sons de l’environnement, des pas, de mastication etc..
mais en même temps l’image est juste magnifique. Le blanc fiévreux très violent, mélangé aux ombres très prononcées..
Je m’y suis perdue, mais j’ai juste accepté mon destin.
L’histoire est terriblement atroce par contre..
c’est flou, même très flou mais c’est en même temps terriblement touchant.
La partie avec les vieux m’a mise vraiment mal à l’aise..
Sinon, c’est un film tellement auditif dans tous les petits sons de l’environnement, des pas, de mastication etc..
mais en même temps l’image est juste magnifique. Le blanc fiévreux très violent, mélangé aux ombres très prononcées..
Je m’y suis perdue, mais j’ai juste accepté mon destin.
L’histoire est terriblement atroce par contre..
Un film rempli de réalité distordue, de réel et d’irréel..
c’est flou, même très flou mais c’est en même temps terriblement touchant.
La partie avec les vieux m’a mise vraiment mal à l’aise..
Sinon, c’est un film tellement auditif dans tous les petits sons de l’environnement, des pas, de mastication etc..
mais en même temps l’image est juste magnifique. Le blanc fiévreux très violent, mélangé aux ombres très prononcées..
Je m’y suis perdue, mais j’ai juste accepté mon destin.
L’histoire est terriblement atroce par contre..
c’est flou, même très flou mais c’est en même temps terriblement touchant.
La partie avec les vieux m’a mise vraiment mal à l’aise..
Sinon, c’est un film tellement auditif dans tous les petits sons de l’environnement, des pas, de mastication etc..
mais en même temps l’image est juste magnifique. Le blanc fiévreux très violent, mélangé aux ombres très prononcées..
Je m’y suis perdue, mais j’ai juste accepté mon destin.
L’histoire est terriblement atroce par contre..
Fatih ÇelikPRO
8.0★ · 02/15/26
Çam kozalağı yiyen iki çocuk karşısında ziyafet çeken 15 tane yaşlı Alman dayı… Savaşı, savaşı göstermeden anlatan bir savaş filmi. Özellikle şu Berlinale şamatasından sonra iyi geldi.
Çam kozalağı yiyen iki çocuk karşısında ziyafet çeken 15 tane yaşlı Alman dayı… Savaşı, savaşı göstermeden anlatan bir savaş filmi. Özellikle şu Berlinale şamatasından sonra iyi geldi.
Plum Ruin
8.0★ · 02/09/26
L’Europe de l’Est c’est vraiment les meilleurs pour faire du cinéma douloureux de la seconde guerre mondiale, c’est glaçant et ça touche en plein cœur
L’Europe de l’Est c’est vraiment les meilleurs pour faire du cinéma douloureux de la seconde guerre mondiale, c’est glaçant et ça touche en plein cœur