Daniel Haskett - The Decalogue

 The Decalogue is a series of episodes that digs deep into the emotions of the viewer. All ten commandments are depicted throughout the series, but the two that we focused on were the first and fifth episodes. Though these are two episodes contain very different messages, Kieslowski uses cinematography to tell the story.

What is unique about Kieslowski’s approach to film?

Kieslowski doesn’t unravel the ribbon to soon. The story that he wants to tell in each of the episodes has a distinct purpose, and he doesn’t give away the key to the point until the end. I Episode 1: "I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have no other gods before me" and Episode 2: "Thou shalt not kill" each have a distinct meaning, but the story that Kieslowski wants to tell is not clear in the title. The development of each episode was the most impressive part. He took the idea of the commandments and applied them to the lives of normal citizens. On an emotional level, the viewer can connect to all the other viewers around them. Also, throughout the episodes there are meanings hidden within context of the film. For instance, Kieslowski continually uses the computer in episode 1 to send an important message to one of the characters.

In the first episode, the monitor read, “I am ready” in three different scenes. Why is that message get emphasized in the film? In 1 Samuel 3 the Lord speaks to Samuel three times but he was blind to the fact that he was being called by the Lord. Each night, Samuel heard his name being called while he was dreaming. He thought that it was Eli calling him, and each time he responded, “Here I am.” The film is parallel to this biblical story. The father in the Decalogue episode was being called through the very medium that he put all of his trust in. The Lord has his methods of reaching the furthest out individuals. In this case the father thought that the computer was all knowing and infallible but that was not the case at all. The computer failed him in the end after he lost his son. “I am ready” is a symbol that God is all knowing and the greatest in power. He can take away as quickly as he gives. Through the two episodes there were countless symbols, but this is the one example that stuck out the most. God is calling.