The Decalogue

1. The Decalogue By Krzysztof Kieslowski

2. Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996) • Born in Warsaw. • Planned to be a theatre director; studied art. • Graduated from Łódź Film School. • Made numerous documentaries. • Made his first feature film, Personnel (1975), for television. • Associated with the Cinema of Moral Concern.

3. Krzysztof Kieslowski His most important films: • Kamera Buff (1979) • No End (Bez końca, 1984) • Three Colours (Blue, White, Red; 1983-84). • The Decalogue (1988) • La double vie de Véronique (1990)

4. The Decalogue (1988) • Made for television. • Based on Ten Commandments according to Deuteronomy 5 (in Roman Catholic order). • Moral philosophy, no politics. • Framing device: the common setting. • A mysterious figure appears in nine of the ten films; symbolism runs throughout the series.

5. The Decalogue V • The corresponding commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.” • Made into a full-length feature A Short Film About Killing. • Provides food for moral judgment, not the judgment itself.

6. The Decalogue V • How does the film address the commandment? • What is the youth’s name? How old is he? • What is the lawyer’s name? • How are the main characters portrayed (appearance, behavior, actions, storyline)? • What symbolic details did you notice? • What kind of shots are mainly used? • What is the film’s colour scheme?

7. Film Study Terms • Dutch angle. The horizontal axis appears tilted. • Mise-en-scène. The combination of setting, lighting, props, figure behavior, costume, etc. • Camera movement. Camera’s motions: tilting, panning, tracking, etc. • Pan. Movement of the camera from left to right and from right to left around the vertical axis.