64 commentaires
A very simple film that should make even the extreme right wing supporters of the death penalty at least question their beliefs.
Personally, I am a supporter of capital punishment, and until the final 15 minutes I was still unfazed by the film and clear in my mind that if used correctly it should be implemented. I know all the arguments about capital punishment not affecting crime rates but to be honest I don't really care about that. It's all about an eye for an eye and allowing relatives a degree of closure knowing that the perpetrator who killed their love one had suffered a similar fate.
However, and this is where this film is clever, the film doesn't allow you to see any real background to the character before committing his crime. It allows you to see only the act and judge the character on the act alone. If the film ended at the murder you would also believe capital punishment is not such a bad idea after all. Once we go past the very short trial (A long drawn out trial was rightly skipped as we already know the fate of our young man), and we get the one on one interview with the aspiring anti death penalty barrister we start to see just how screwed up this kid is, and how the rage in him is not entirely of his own making. Just as you start to question if you knew your mind doubts start to creep in and, just as quickly, before you can really gather any coherent thoughts he is whisked away to his death, and the act is entirely as abhorrent as you imagine it would be.
The nasty high risers and grainy colourless backgrounds set the scene well, and the shaded lenses, focusing on the main character highlighting his loneliness and possibly his narrow mindedness made it a rather sad film to watch, but it certainly is worth sticking with.
An 9/10 is definitely warranted
Personally, I am a supporter of capital punishment, and until the final 15 minutes I was still unfazed by the film and clear in my mind that if used correctly it should be implemented. I know all the arguments about capital punishment not affecting crime rates but to be honest I don't really care about that. It's all about an eye for an eye and allowing relatives a degree of closure knowing that the perpetrator who killed their love one had suffered a similar fate.
However, and this is where this film is clever, the film doesn't allow you to see any real background to the character before committing his crime. It allows you to see only the act and judge the character on the act alone. If the film ended at the murder you would also believe capital punishment is not such a bad idea after all. Once we go past the very short trial (A long drawn out trial was rightly skipped as we already know the fate of our young man), and we get the one on one interview with the aspiring anti death penalty barrister we start to see just how screwed up this kid is, and how the rage in him is not entirely of his own making. Just as you start to question if you knew your mind doubts start to creep in and, just as quickly, before you can really gather any coherent thoughts he is whisked away to his death, and the act is entirely as abhorrent as you imagine it would be.
The nasty high risers and grainy colourless backgrounds set the scene well, and the shaded lenses, focusing on the main character highlighting his loneliness and possibly his narrow mindedness made it a rather sad film to watch, but it certainly is worth sticking with.
An 9/10 is definitely warranted
- raymond-15
- 4 août 2000
- Permalien
A Short Film About Killing is Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski's feature length adaptation of the hour long piece belonging to the Dekalog series, a collection of modern representations of the ten commandments set in a socio-realist Warsaw in Poland. This film, 'thou shalt not kill', is a film essentially about two separate 'murders'. Jacek, a young adolescent, kills an innocent taxi driver in a seemingly motiveless crime for which he is tried and executed at the hands of the state.
Inherently simple in terms of its plot, A Short Film About Killing is a complex indictment on all forms of killing, whether in the form of an act of brutal murder, or an organised and legal murder wrapped in the arms of the law. Kieslowski, clearly inspired by the human-issues documentary movement in the 70's, has presented the film as a bleak and depressing reality. Filmed on location, the run down post-cold war communist Warsaw in Poland provides a cold and melancholic back drop to the film. The documentary feel of the film is intensified by the way it is filmed, with no tracking or dolly shots, just an observing camera placing us, the undiscerning viewer right in the thick of it. This can make the affect of the scenes in the film somewhat sickening at times, however it was clearly intended by Kieslowski, who wanted to show how disgusting murder is. The subtle green filter used on the camera, gives the celluloid a dreary appearance, pertaining to the bleak mood of the film. This minimalistic photography allows us to focus on the detailed reactions and actions of the characters in the film, which come to a horrifying climax during both murder sequences, probably two of the most superbly executed murder sequences ever committed to film.
Kieslowski doesn't try to explain Jacek's murder because he clearly wants to avoid condoning it with motives that might make the audience feel sorry for him. Instead, Kieslowski simply presents Jacek's execution as a counterpoint to the murder of the taxi driver, thus forcing us to compare the the horrific nature of both acts, revealing the crux of the film. The first murder in the back of the taxi is with out a doubt horrific, but the execution is just as unforgivable, illustrating that although legal, capital punishment is devoid of humanity and veracity, in all the same ways as cold blooded murder itself. It is a brilliant illustration of the failings and contradictory nature of capital punishment, which replicate the actions of a murderer instead of upholding justice.
It was clearly the intention of Kieslowski to underline this in his film. He believed, like many others, that capital punishment has no place in the 20th century. I wouldn't be surprised if many who start this film as pro capital punishment, end up strongly against it by the time the credits roll. If this sounds too presumptuous, then consider the fact that A Short Film About Killing led to the suspension of capital Punishment in Poland. This surely proves the power of the film.
Inherently simple in terms of its plot, A Short Film About Killing is a complex indictment on all forms of killing, whether in the form of an act of brutal murder, or an organised and legal murder wrapped in the arms of the law. Kieslowski, clearly inspired by the human-issues documentary movement in the 70's, has presented the film as a bleak and depressing reality. Filmed on location, the run down post-cold war communist Warsaw in Poland provides a cold and melancholic back drop to the film. The documentary feel of the film is intensified by the way it is filmed, with no tracking or dolly shots, just an observing camera placing us, the undiscerning viewer right in the thick of it. This can make the affect of the scenes in the film somewhat sickening at times, however it was clearly intended by Kieslowski, who wanted to show how disgusting murder is. The subtle green filter used on the camera, gives the celluloid a dreary appearance, pertaining to the bleak mood of the film. This minimalistic photography allows us to focus on the detailed reactions and actions of the characters in the film, which come to a horrifying climax during both murder sequences, probably two of the most superbly executed murder sequences ever committed to film.
Kieslowski doesn't try to explain Jacek's murder because he clearly wants to avoid condoning it with motives that might make the audience feel sorry for him. Instead, Kieslowski simply presents Jacek's execution as a counterpoint to the murder of the taxi driver, thus forcing us to compare the the horrific nature of both acts, revealing the crux of the film. The first murder in the back of the taxi is with out a doubt horrific, but the execution is just as unforgivable, illustrating that although legal, capital punishment is devoid of humanity and veracity, in all the same ways as cold blooded murder itself. It is a brilliant illustration of the failings and contradictory nature of capital punishment, which replicate the actions of a murderer instead of upholding justice.
It was clearly the intention of Kieslowski to underline this in his film. He believed, like many others, that capital punishment has no place in the 20th century. I wouldn't be surprised if many who start this film as pro capital punishment, end up strongly against it by the time the credits roll. If this sounds too presumptuous, then consider the fact that A Short Film About Killing led to the suspension of capital Punishment in Poland. This surely proves the power of the film.
- jameskinsman
- 18 déc. 2005
- Permalien
- two-rivers
- 16 nov. 1999
- Permalien
I am sure this is not the most depressing film ever made, I am sure that somewhere, some time, some one has made a more distressing and emotionally powerful look at humans in all there glory. I'm sure people have endeavoured to make a film that makes a city (in this case Warsaw) look bleaker and darker. And I'm sure that this isn't the most painful spiral downhill voyage any character has ever made on celluloid. I'm also sure that this movie is the darkest movie on every level I have ever seen.
The director uses dark filters at time to make this movie almost black, but all that is does is replicate the feel of the material. Which was essentially an anti capital punishment movie. We follow a young man's trip to the dark side, troubled by an unnamed past this movie is a lot like The Machinist or Requiem for A Dream, we can see this man faltering and we feel helpless. The movie is compelling the same way a car wreck is.
You shouldn't be able to watch a movie this black, from the start with a cat in a terrible position to the end with a human in a terrible position, this is only a film that could have been made in Europe. Humans are painted in a despicable way, but it's the city of Warsaw that looks like it's about to grab you at any moment.
This is a very visual way of telling a story, words are almost not necessary throughout the whole film, except a brilliant conversation between lawyer and client. And another brilliant thing about this movie is there is not a "the capital punishment law is wrong" speech by a lawyer to be seen, the movie tells you what it wants you to know without a lawyer ramming in down your throat.
Subtle is best. And in this case a picture does tell a thousand words.
This is a slow burning painfully beautiful look at killing, and if you can sit through its 80 minutes of bleakness, you may never forget its imagery.
The director uses dark filters at time to make this movie almost black, but all that is does is replicate the feel of the material. Which was essentially an anti capital punishment movie. We follow a young man's trip to the dark side, troubled by an unnamed past this movie is a lot like The Machinist or Requiem for A Dream, we can see this man faltering and we feel helpless. The movie is compelling the same way a car wreck is.
You shouldn't be able to watch a movie this black, from the start with a cat in a terrible position to the end with a human in a terrible position, this is only a film that could have been made in Europe. Humans are painted in a despicable way, but it's the city of Warsaw that looks like it's about to grab you at any moment.
This is a very visual way of telling a story, words are almost not necessary throughout the whole film, except a brilliant conversation between lawyer and client. And another brilliant thing about this movie is there is not a "the capital punishment law is wrong" speech by a lawyer to be seen, the movie tells you what it wants you to know without a lawyer ramming in down your throat.
Subtle is best. And in this case a picture does tell a thousand words.
This is a slow burning painfully beautiful look at killing, and if you can sit through its 80 minutes of bleakness, you may never forget its imagery.
- ulyssestone
- 4 janv. 2005
- Permalien
- ThreeSadTigers
- 28 déc. 2007
- Permalien
- claudio_carvalho
- 28 nov. 2008
- Permalien
The bleakest, most powerful of Kieslowski's Dekalog series opens with half the screen black, and the other half full of a cat hanged by the neck from a street railing. Children scamper off in the background, laughing. The words of the title appear over the black. Bam. We're in. And we're not allowed out of this bleak, miserable world until the end credits. We must crawl through a world where humour is exiled and bitterness and cynicism reign, with our eyes fitted with lenses hand-painted by the director, turning Warsaw into a jaded defeated landscape of dirty sepias and dishwater greys. The story is simple; a young man kills a taxi driver and is, in turn, killed by the state. Just as the title says. There is no humour, no light relief. It's awful, somehow beautiful, constantly disturbing. It's dirty and tawdry. While cinema barrages us daily with glib murders by the bucketful, Kieslowski gives us just two, and shows us killing for what it is: a bare foot emerging from a shoe & sock as a dying man writhes; blood and urine dribbling into a plastic tray under the gallows. A film which haunts.
I am commenting more on other users' comments than on the film itself. The film mostly avoided the mistake of being an indictment of the death penalty. It may confirm the feelings of those opposed to the death penalty. It had no effect on my indifference to the use of executions as punishment for people who kill innocent civilians without justification.
It is imprecise to talk about executions in the criminal justice system and to generalize from it about all state-sanctioned killing. Military action that results in death is state-sanctioned killing. I have much greater sympathy for the unintentional victims of justified military action than for convicted murderers. That is, for example, though i would support defense of a country's citizens from a cognizable threat, as in the United States' action against the Taliban in Afghanistan (and in contradistinction to the threat Bush drummed up to invade Iraq), i have great sympathy for so-called collateral damage from errant or imprecise bombs and for friends and family members of these victims. In the priority of my sympathies, i place efforts to avoid such collateral damage and to compensate its victims and survivors far ahead of worrying about the fate of convicted murderers. Can't those of you opposed to the death penalty find greater sympathy for more worthy causes? If we're one step away from a perfect world, then we start worrying about convicted murderers. Before then, there are more worthy objects for our limited resources.
I liked the film for the most part. I found the use of filters that darkened various parts of the screen (sometimes a top band, sometimes a side band, sometimes around a central oval, sometimes just a corner or other area) both distracting and yet of symbolic importance. Symbols that are less obvious, less distracting from the story, are more effective. This device called too much attention to itself.
It is imprecise to talk about executions in the criminal justice system and to generalize from it about all state-sanctioned killing. Military action that results in death is state-sanctioned killing. I have much greater sympathy for the unintentional victims of justified military action than for convicted murderers. That is, for example, though i would support defense of a country's citizens from a cognizable threat, as in the United States' action against the Taliban in Afghanistan (and in contradistinction to the threat Bush drummed up to invade Iraq), i have great sympathy for so-called collateral damage from errant or imprecise bombs and for friends and family members of these victims. In the priority of my sympathies, i place efforts to avoid such collateral damage and to compensate its victims and survivors far ahead of worrying about the fate of convicted murderers. Can't those of you opposed to the death penalty find greater sympathy for more worthy causes? If we're one step away from a perfect world, then we start worrying about convicted murderers. Before then, there are more worthy objects for our limited resources.
I liked the film for the most part. I found the use of filters that darkened various parts of the screen (sometimes a top band, sometimes a side band, sometimes around a central oval, sometimes just a corner or other area) both distracting and yet of symbolic importance. Symbols that are less obvious, less distracting from the story, are more effective. This device called too much attention to itself.
- RussEWrite
- 19 févr. 2006
- Permalien
Impressive and thought provoking, this film debates the age-old topic of capital punishment. Here though, there is a difference. The morality of state-killing is critiqued alongside an analysis of individual agency - when a person kills another, apparently from a desire to murder, are there other motives and factors that bring him/her to this position? Are we all, given certain circumstances, capable of killing?
This tantalising and worrying notion has been considered elsewhere, and Camus' 'The Outsider' is a good example. Here, there are many parallels with Kieslowski's film: that a desire to kill - and killing itself - can be driven by a range of factors - some banal, some traumatic, and not all by any means within the control of the protagonist.
This tantalising and worrying notion has been considered elsewhere, and Camus' 'The Outsider' is a good example. Here, there are many parallels with Kieslowski's film: that a desire to kill - and killing itself - can be driven by a range of factors - some banal, some traumatic, and not all by any means within the control of the protagonist.
- ian_hodgson
- 18 mars 2007
- Permalien
A Short Film About Killing / Krótki film o zabijaniu (1988) :
Brief Review -
A Strong Film made on Weak Base. Krzysztof Kieslowski's Crime Drama doesn't find Commensurability. A Short Film About Killing is one of the most acclaimed crime drama of late 80s and it even won accolades in Cannes and European Film Awards but i wonder WHY? Talk about any crime film where there is murder committed and think about what could be the reasons for it. Generally we expect a strong or at least decent reason to make that Murder look fair from the murderer's point of view, right? Whether he's done fair or unfair is a totally different thing but there has to be a scope to discuss and argue on it, no? And this film does not have it. I mean by far. In a film we see a soon-to-be lawyer crosses his path with a taxi driver and a young sinister guy. The young wanderer guy assaults and kills the Taxi Driver for a small, forgivable fault and then the lawyer, in his first case tries to defend him in front of judge. Of course, he loses, because the guy was guilty and then there is emotional breakdown and blast from the past to tell why he behaved like that. To be frank, it wasn't enough to make him look fair even 1%. How weak writing it was. I am shocked to see so many positive reviews and hardly few people bashing its lame writing. Anyways, it's a strong film from rest of the sides. The biggest surviving factor of the film is superb performances of all three leading actors Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz and Jan Tesarz. The second best thing is Kieslowski's gripping and intense storytelling. The film does not look boring because of short runtime otherwise with that documentary style of cinematography it would have been a tedious journey. Overall, it's a good attempt to explore darkness into reality but nothing great.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
A Strong Film made on Weak Base. Krzysztof Kieslowski's Crime Drama doesn't find Commensurability. A Short Film About Killing is one of the most acclaimed crime drama of late 80s and it even won accolades in Cannes and European Film Awards but i wonder WHY? Talk about any crime film where there is murder committed and think about what could be the reasons for it. Generally we expect a strong or at least decent reason to make that Murder look fair from the murderer's point of view, right? Whether he's done fair or unfair is a totally different thing but there has to be a scope to discuss and argue on it, no? And this film does not have it. I mean by far. In a film we see a soon-to-be lawyer crosses his path with a taxi driver and a young sinister guy. The young wanderer guy assaults and kills the Taxi Driver for a small, forgivable fault and then the lawyer, in his first case tries to defend him in front of judge. Of course, he loses, because the guy was guilty and then there is emotional breakdown and blast from the past to tell why he behaved like that. To be frank, it wasn't enough to make him look fair even 1%. How weak writing it was. I am shocked to see so many positive reviews and hardly few people bashing its lame writing. Anyways, it's a strong film from rest of the sides. The biggest surviving factor of the film is superb performances of all three leading actors Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz and Jan Tesarz. The second best thing is Kieslowski's gripping and intense storytelling. The film does not look boring because of short runtime otherwise with that documentary style of cinematography it would have been a tedious journey. Overall, it's a good attempt to explore darkness into reality but nothing great.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
- SAMTHEBESTEST
- 2 mai 2021
- Permalien
My Rating : 5/10
In Poland, this film was instrumental in the abolition of the death penalty.
Need I say more?
On one hand you have a senseless killing of a random innocent taxi driver and on the other the killer is tried and executed in an organised execution by the state. 'Thou shalt not kill'
In Poland, this film was instrumental in the abolition of the death penalty.
Need I say more?
On one hand you have a senseless killing of a random innocent taxi driver and on the other the killer is tried and executed in an organised execution by the state. 'Thou shalt not kill'
- A_FORTY_SEVEN
- 25 sept. 2018
- Permalien
A Short Film About Killing (1988)
"Since Cain, no punishment has proved an adequate remedy."
A soon to be lawyer responds to the debate on capital punishment with this quote at his exam. The older lawyers seem pleased and do not need to be told who the source of those words are. And so we are not told. Kieslowski, one of the greatest of all filmmakers, made a habit of this in his films, he never tells us anything we don't need to know, even when we think we need to know. In the Double Life of Veronique he never tells us why there are two women who look exactly alike, both have heart problems, why one feels the loss of the other without ever having met her or knowing of her, or why all this happens despite no relation (perhaps other than spiritual) whatsoever. We want to know the answer, but what good would that do? If we got it we'd likely be left disappointed. Whats left unsaid sometimes speaks the loudest.
In A Short Film About Killing Kieslowski never really goes into details about why a young man brutally murders a Taxi Driver one afternoon. We find out details from his past, but the closest we get to finding out why he did this is why he lives in the city now. In Kieslowski's world, chance dictates the day - although it is not necessarily random. The characters in the film seem to be on a path of fate - the young lawyer, the young man, and the middle aged taxi driver. They are floating down a path, presented with various different paths, which unfortunately for all involved are never treaded on. The taxi driver is the best example of this. He has a mean streak, if not for anything but his own enjoyment. Early on a young couple wait for him to finish washing his taxi. He finishes and simply drives off leaving them behind, seemingly pleased with himself. Later he sees a drunk man coming out of a pub with the help of his friend, instead of taking the fare he immediately drives away before the men can get in the cab. This mean spirited actions lead him on a path to his death. If only he had took the couple the young man wouldn't have ended up in his car; if only he decided to be a good Samaritan and take the drunken fare, he would have never ended up with his killer in the car. But alas he chooses to ignore the escapes and alas he is killed. The film is clear about what its trying to say in its main message: Capital punishment is wrong and unjust. Fate lead to the death of the taxi driver, but it is the state's vengeance for a man it could care less about that leads to the murder of the young man (yes, capital punishment is murder, no matter how you spin it, Sorry Weber).
What is incredible about this film is that whereas other anti-capital punishment films show that the offender has his very clear reasons for committing his crime, tugging at our heart strings with murder in some form of defense, Kieslowski doesn't allow us that luxury. No, instead the taxi driver, a jerk he may be, is killed in cold blood without any legitimate justification. That is a bold step to make in a film against capital punishment. David Gale should have taken lessons. That the film makes this work is perhaps its greatest strength. We see that the young man regrets what he did, he's scared, he's human - not a monster. Kieslowski makes the final scenes genuinely heart breaking without having to tell us why.
Yes, it is the lack of reason which makes A Short Film About Killing work, just as the lack of answers is what makes The Double Life of Veronique work. Fate has its way with us, yet grants us opportunities to deny it without ever acknowledging them. What a cruel game life is.
Oh, and if you must know, the film's unsourced quote with which I opened this review is derived from Marx in 1853: "...there is such a thing as statistics - which prove with the most complete evidence that since Cain the world has neither been intimidated nor ameliorated by punishment"
"Since Cain, no punishment has proved an adequate remedy."
A soon to be lawyer responds to the debate on capital punishment with this quote at his exam. The older lawyers seem pleased and do not need to be told who the source of those words are. And so we are not told. Kieslowski, one of the greatest of all filmmakers, made a habit of this in his films, he never tells us anything we don't need to know, even when we think we need to know. In the Double Life of Veronique he never tells us why there are two women who look exactly alike, both have heart problems, why one feels the loss of the other without ever having met her or knowing of her, or why all this happens despite no relation (perhaps other than spiritual) whatsoever. We want to know the answer, but what good would that do? If we got it we'd likely be left disappointed. Whats left unsaid sometimes speaks the loudest.
In A Short Film About Killing Kieslowski never really goes into details about why a young man brutally murders a Taxi Driver one afternoon. We find out details from his past, but the closest we get to finding out why he did this is why he lives in the city now. In Kieslowski's world, chance dictates the day - although it is not necessarily random. The characters in the film seem to be on a path of fate - the young lawyer, the young man, and the middle aged taxi driver. They are floating down a path, presented with various different paths, which unfortunately for all involved are never treaded on. The taxi driver is the best example of this. He has a mean streak, if not for anything but his own enjoyment. Early on a young couple wait for him to finish washing his taxi. He finishes and simply drives off leaving them behind, seemingly pleased with himself. Later he sees a drunk man coming out of a pub with the help of his friend, instead of taking the fare he immediately drives away before the men can get in the cab. This mean spirited actions lead him on a path to his death. If only he had took the couple the young man wouldn't have ended up in his car; if only he decided to be a good Samaritan and take the drunken fare, he would have never ended up with his killer in the car. But alas he chooses to ignore the escapes and alas he is killed. The film is clear about what its trying to say in its main message: Capital punishment is wrong and unjust. Fate lead to the death of the taxi driver, but it is the state's vengeance for a man it could care less about that leads to the murder of the young man (yes, capital punishment is murder, no matter how you spin it, Sorry Weber).
What is incredible about this film is that whereas other anti-capital punishment films show that the offender has his very clear reasons for committing his crime, tugging at our heart strings with murder in some form of defense, Kieslowski doesn't allow us that luxury. No, instead the taxi driver, a jerk he may be, is killed in cold blood without any legitimate justification. That is a bold step to make in a film against capital punishment. David Gale should have taken lessons. That the film makes this work is perhaps its greatest strength. We see that the young man regrets what he did, he's scared, he's human - not a monster. Kieslowski makes the final scenes genuinely heart breaking without having to tell us why.
Yes, it is the lack of reason which makes A Short Film About Killing work, just as the lack of answers is what makes The Double Life of Veronique work. Fate has its way with us, yet grants us opportunities to deny it without ever acknowledging them. What a cruel game life is.
Oh, and if you must know, the film's unsourced quote with which I opened this review is derived from Marx in 1853: "...there is such a thing as statistics - which prove with the most complete evidence that since Cain the world has neither been intimidated nor ameliorated by punishment"
- MacAindrais
- 28 juin 2008
- Permalien
Have you ever just want to lash out at somebody because emotions have been building up inside you for so long? This is what A Short Film About Killing is about. Perfectly executed and realistically pictured. The pacing is phenomenal, the excitement building up to every scene is breath taking and the way the film portrays youth, adults and the sad depravity of humanity is outstanding.
Beyond words, A Short Film About Killing is undoubtedly one of the best films I've seen. Though the subtitles, for English and non-Polish viewers, mildly take away from the metaphoric scenes, this film is beyond fantastic. Very much worthy of all the praise and love that this great film has received.
Beyond words, A Short Film About Killing is undoubtedly one of the best films I've seen. Though the subtitles, for English and non-Polish viewers, mildly take away from the metaphoric scenes, this film is beyond fantastic. Very much worthy of all the praise and love that this great film has received.
- michaelradny
- 1 août 2015
- Permalien
- caponesque
- 20 mars 2008
- Permalien
- ilpohirvonen
- 4 janv. 2011
- Permalien
Interesting movie, an extended version of one of the episodes from 'dekalog', but I like it better at an hour as opposed to 1 1/2. That said, it's quite a bleak film - virtually none of the characters have any redeeming qualities to it whatsoever. The only likable person is the lawyer. The message is pretty single minded; I would venture to say that most of Kieslowski's communist-era films as a whole speak out boldly against the degeneration of the human condition under state oppression. An interesting topic, and certainly a film that's difficult to watch. If this film interests you, see 'bez konca' (no end) which features grazyna szapolowska in a spectacular role.
Kieslowski made a wonderful film. He made this film because he didn't agree with the death penalty in Poland at the time. This philosophical movie has : a great leading role (by Baka), great directing (Kieslowski) and great scenario (Kieslowski with Piesiewicz). This move has been made for TV but along with another parts of "The Decalogue". In 2005 the "Time Magazine" gave this film a title "One of the 100 greatest films ever made" (of course along with another nine of the "Decalogue"). Kieslowski became one of the best polish and European producers and directors. Miroslaw Baka and Krzysztof Globisz (great!) became very popular actors. This film is for anyone who likes strong film, not highly overloaded by special effects but unforgettable.
- ahmedhodzic-17463
- 5 janv. 2025
- Permalien
A heavily manipulative and heavily manipulated film. A dark film both in subject matter, and in terms of filters applied via cinematography. For me, those effects were less-than-special; a dark halo squeezing in around the chief antagonist did more than obscure the eye, but it obscured the emotions of the film.
From the obscure to the opaque: the lead character as a young drifter is presented to us in a series of vile vignettes, not only do they make him unlikeable, he ends up being uninteresting. He comes across as cretinous as he is cruel.
Even without these episodes, and without the dark filter (it looked more black to me, but the bonus DVD material referred to it as green), and without the tense music, the sense of foreboding may prod some along. Honestly for me it was an effort to get through, and an excruciating scene in a field just about finished me off.
I don't see this as adding much to the discussion on capital punishment, I suspect folks for it would have almost sentenced Jacek before his crime; while those opposed may be moved to mercy by the photo enlargement and 30 second explanation for a possible motive. Maybe more time spent on that 30 second field incident, and less time on the field incident with the cabdriver might have made for a better film for me.
Honestly, I think I'm being merciful in giving this a
5/10
-Thurston Hunger
From the obscure to the opaque: the lead character as a young drifter is presented to us in a series of vile vignettes, not only do they make him unlikeable, he ends up being uninteresting. He comes across as cretinous as he is cruel.
Even without these episodes, and without the dark filter (it looked more black to me, but the bonus DVD material referred to it as green), and without the tense music, the sense of foreboding may prod some along. Honestly for me it was an effort to get through, and an excruciating scene in a field just about finished me off.
I don't see this as adding much to the discussion on capital punishment, I suspect folks for it would have almost sentenced Jacek before his crime; while those opposed may be moved to mercy by the photo enlargement and 30 second explanation for a possible motive. Maybe more time spent on that 30 second field incident, and less time on the field incident with the cabdriver might have made for a better film for me.
Honestly, I think I'm being merciful in giving this a
5/10
-Thurston Hunger
- ThurstonHunger
- 18 avr. 2007
- Permalien