The more work I see of Krzysztof Kieslowski, the stronger the feeling that he was an incredibly gifted director, responsible for some brilliant work, taken from us too soon.
Have yet to see anything bad from him, with even my least favourite (the eighth episode of 'Dekalog') still being very good, with the masterful 'Dekalog' and 'Three Colors: Red' (all three "Three Colors" films are must watches, but especially 'Red') being particularly great. Originally the fifth episode of 'Dekalog', and one of its finest episodes, 'A Short Film About Killing' was expanded into a feature length film and the result is something quite brilliant.
As ever, 'A Short Film About Killing' is visually striking, gritty yet beautiful with many thoughtful and emotionally powerful images lingering long into the memory. Kieslowski's direction is quietly unobtrusive, intelligently paced and never too heavy, and the music is suitably intricate.
On top of that, the story is creepy (reminding any Fyodor Dostoyevsky readers of 'Crime and Punishment') with some shocking scenes and a wide range of emotions. It really shows Kieslowski's mastery of narrative construction and also was impressed with how the subject matter was told very matter of factly but still with incredible emotional power.
The themes and ideals are used to full potential, and the characters and their relationships and conflicts feel so real and emotionally resonant without being heavy-handed. The sparse dialogue is bleak, thought-provoking with some real pathos at times, parts that really chill and some subtle black humour. The complexity and nuance of the acting is to be very much admired, with Miros?aw Baka's once seen never forgotten performance standing out.
All in all, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox
A Short Film About Killing (1988) 720p
Directors: Krzysztof Kieslowski [Director]
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Cast: Miroslaw Baka
, Jan Tesarz
, Krzysztof Globisz
, Zbigniew Zapasiewicz
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Movie Description:
The plot couldn't be simpler or its attack on capital punishment (and the act of killing in general) more direct - a senseless, violent, almost botched murder is followed by a cold, calculated, flawlessly performed execution (both killings shown in the most graphic detail imaginable), while the murderer's idealistic young defence lawyer ends up as an unwilling accessory to the judicial murder of his client.

Cast: Miroslaw Baka




Movie Description:
The plot couldn't be simpler or its attack on capital punishment (and the act of killing in general) more direct - a senseless, violent, almost botched murder is followed by a cold, calculated, flawlessly performed execution (both killings shown in the most graphic detail imaginable), while the murderer's idealistic young defence lawyer ends up as an unwilling accessory to the judicial murder of his client.