Les têtes parlantes

In 1980, the late Krzysztof Kieslowski interviewed a number of ordinary Poles (born at various times over the preceding 100 years), asking them who they were and what they wanted from life. The results were assembled into this short film. What strikes one today, whether it is a sign of communist Poland at this time, or merely of Kieslowksi's own fascination with moral questions, is how sombre and serious most of the answers are: no-one says they want to sleep with a film star or make a quick million. It's also noticeable how similar the answers are, despite the great age difference of the participants. The best answer is fittingly the last one.

Seemingly dozens of people tackle this question, from an infant who sits there silently, to a woman a hundred years old.

Actually, they don't seem to address the first question, or perhaps in Polish the distinction is not clear. They answer not who they are, but what they are: a potential fireman, or a taxi driver, or a sociologist, or a recent widow or one hundred years old. The answer to the second question also shows an interesting arc: the very young speak of what they want personally, the adults of what they want society to be, and the old and very old.... want nothing. A few more years perhaps.

Since I'm enjoying the "Dekalog" films so much, I wanted to check out some of acclaimed Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski's other work before continuing the series. Because it has been in my watchlist for a while now, I decided to watch his 18 minute long documentary film "Talking Heads". In the film, many different people are interviewed and speak about their personalities, life, problems, and desires. It's a fascinating and intriguing idea that is executed very well.

This film really seems to represent life itself. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes it is sad-you meet many different personalities and you have many different characteristics. In this film, all sorts of people are interviewed from ages 1 to 100. Some of them are happy, others are sad, and all of their moods and emotions clash together beautifully to create a wonderful portrait of the world surrounding us all.

This one I think either the very first, or one of the first films by Krzysztof Kieslowski I had ever seen and I remember thinking how incredible this was. So simple. No flashy camera work, three questions and some fascinating answers. Asking ordinary working people some simple questions and yet, you get more of an understanding of real life and the plight or happiness or torture or emotion of the human condition than you will find in any other film.

The end is even clever in that it leaves you not knowing whether to feel sad or happy.

I loved this film.

Only gave it a 9 because well...is there really ever a ten?!

Gadajace Glowy is a serious documentary film of 15 minutes which features people from different age groups,backgrounds and professions. A common element of all answers involves respect for an individual. Kieslowski starts his film by asking three simple questions to a boy aged 1 year.These questions are: a) Who are you ? b) When were you born ? c) What is important for you ? These three questions are asked to many young children,boys,girls,men and women.We get to hear very calculated replies which evoke all kinds of human feelings.It is through these replies that we come to know that Polish people are exhorted to be brave,honest and decent in their daily lives.Master cameraman Jacek Petrycki carefully films these replies which have been formulated in order to state that individual freedom is not enough as people must live in a democratic setup.At the end of the film,one of the most poignant reply comes from a lady who is 100 years old.She states that she would like to live more.Talking Heads is a documentary film of highest quality about heads which talk.It is not an ordinary,trite talk which one gets to hear. Kieslowski has conceived "Talking Heads" in such a manner that we get to hear frank views about life from simple,ordinary human beings.