IV, V, and VI. Review on Decalogue Films Movie

An overdose of ''bleak'' was perhaps not the best choice for a rainy afternoon. But when you think Keislowski is one of the best directors around, you have little doubt about how his films will affect you. However, I'm perhaps not best suited to review the three decalogue films I got my hands on. Seeing all 10 would have rendered me more skilled at making comparisons and observations. But nonetheless, I had to type in a few lines to applaud the writer/director that is Keislowski.

The Decalogue films are a series of ten 56-minute-long films based on the 10 commandments. First aired as a television series, these Polish short films with sub-titles in English, later gained momentum when the film-making world began to take notice of it. In the different scenarios, Keislowski has made attempts at explaining the different commandments. However occassionally, the stories seemed to steer from convention. Despite their popularity today, I'm told the press was cautious in their reaction to the films, due to its religious references.

Of the three that I saw, the first was Honor thy father and thy mother. I was a slightly disturbed by this film, that centers around the relationship between a father and daughter. The film opens up to Anna, who shares a very close relationship with her father. Only, their relationship in the first few frames baffle you a bit. This is only in preparation to what is to happen later. Anna wakes up her father playfully, by emptying a jug of water on him. He later has his sweet revenge, when he coaxes her into opening the bathroom door, to empty more water on her. What surprises you, is his reaction to his drenched daughter. He seems to look her over, and she responds to him with a coy smile. Only in the next frame, do you realize that he is actually her father.

Later, Michal sets off on a trip, during which Anna opens up a letter that she has been seeing around in the house for years. It is a letter from her mother that was written to Anna, shortly before her death. Anna is understandably curious about its contents. So when Michal returns, he is faced with an angry Anna, who rattles out the contents of the letter. According to her, the letter states that Michal isn't her real father. Michal who is just as shocked at this piece of information, confesses later that he always had his doubts about his paternity.

Now, this news somehow alters their relationship. Anna makes futile attempts at seducing him, by telling him that now everything made sense. But Michal refuses to give in, explaining that she could still be his daughter. Their internal turmoil ends with Anna confessing to the fact that she'd not really opened the letter.

I found this incestual angle extremly disturbing. Irrespective of whether or not Michal was her biological father, he was the only father Anna knew. So he deserved more respect and honor than Anna was giving him. And this was perhaps what Keislowski was trying to convey.

The second Thou shalt not kill, gives an account of Keislowski's own views on prison executions. This is interesting because of how he expresses his views in this scenario. The story is about Jacek, who strangles, and then smashes the head of a cruel taxi driver. As a viewer, you're not sure you like the victim, because in earlier frames, you see him as a not-so-nice-guy, who derives pleasure at the expense of others (animals as well). But, as humans, you are a little shocked at his pointless murder. After his murder, Jacek is charged with murder. Idealistic lawyer Piotr decides to fight his case, only to lose. Jacek is executed, something that Keislowski is definitely against.

What is interesting is that when you begin watching this film, you think that perhaps it is a reference to the taxi driver's murder. But quite surprisingly, the film admonishes Jacek's murder by the legal system. Perhaps, as he rightfully points out, An Eye for an Eye is not the solution to any wrong deed.

This interesting angle was then followed up by the amusing tale referencing Thou shalt not commit adultery. If you remember Manisha Koirala's controversial Ek Chotisi Love Story from the past, that movie was sincerely copied from this short film. Sadly, the hindi film bordered on disgust, and in this film, you empathize with its main protagonist.

In this film, Tomek, a 19-year-old working at a post office nurses his growing obsession for Magda. He peeps into her life every evening, with the aid of a telescope. But during the course of these secret peeping sessions, he realizes he is falling in love with her. His obsession then forces him into sending her wrong notices, just so she'll come to the post office. He then begins delivering her milk, stealing her mail, and interrupting her love-making sessions with her boyfriend. As in the hindi movie, Magda treats this discovery with amusement. They go out on an ice-cream date, after which he returns to her apartment. Then Magda displays her not-so-empathetic side, in an attempt to prove that love doesn't exist. This is met with tragic consequences, but eventually Tomek gives up on his obsession.

On the whole, a rather interesting watch. I'd recommend it highly to film buffs who are open to symbolism and the lack of loud action. Nevertheless, I'll review the films again, once I've seen all 10. Perhaps then I'd be able to explain characters seen repeatedly, and the underlying factors binding them all.

Till then, I'll just look for the other 7.