The Decalogue

This is a movie I am currently watching (actually, a series of 10 movies – 50 mins each, originally made for Polish TV). These are short films by the Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski – loosely based on the ten commandments, but basically more on the lives of simple people, often facing difficult choices. There is no overt moral, ethical or religious discussions – but just simple stories of people that we immediately identify with.

It is highly critically acclaimed – Stanley Kubrick said that the Decalogue is the only masterpiece that he could name in his lifetime – and it is not difficult to see why. Till now I managed to watch 5 episodes – and each one of them pack a lot of story and drama within their 50 mins, than an ordinary movie will do in 2-3 hours. The drama is never overt, dialogue-based, or based on racy action – it is just tightly knit human stories. I would soon finish the other 5 episodes, but I do not want to rush through them – just want to relish them at a slow pace.

This film gets a very high rating of 9.2 from IMDB. I would not talk about the stories here – there are many forums which give the stories and some sort of review. My personal favourite is the review of Roger Ebert – I take the liberty to quote from what he has to say:

“These are not characters involved in the simpleminded struggles of Hollywood plots. They are adults, for the most part outside organized religion, faced with situations in their own lives that require them to make moral choices. You shouldn't watch the films all at once, but one at a time. Then if you are lucky and have someone to talk with, you discuss them, and learn about yourself. Or if you are alone, you discuss them with yourself, as so many of Kieslowski's characters do.”