For me it’s 5. I think it has some of the best acting and I really enjoy the way the story is laid out. The idea of breaking out all of the different types of killing and sympathizing with all the different characters is really powerful and I think a strong statement against any type of killing … or maybe a statement for all types of killing, sometimes it’s difficult to tell with Kieslowski!
I agree that 5 is one of the great ones. It’s a masterpiece by itself. It really made me think about the death penalty. Like so many of the other episodes it poses the idea that everyone has the right to live.
I’m with you on Dekalog 1 – my favourite by far. Possibly the most powerful hour of cinema I’ve ever seen.
I was mesmerized by the beauty of actress Ewa Blaszczyk. The love she had for her husband would make any man envious.
For emotional punch: Decalogue 5.
For intellectual stimulation: Decalogue 4. Immediately after watching it, everyone who watched it with me got into a huge conversation about what the labels “father”, “mother”, “sister”, “brother” etc. really mean, if indeed they mean anything. Just an incredibly rewarding film experience overall.
dp
ZACK – Yeah, I agree a lot of good discussion comes out of the 4th movie. I think discussion wise, Thou Shalt not steal (#7) was one of my favorites as well. I had a little problem with how dramatic the young mother was, but the ideas generated in the installment were very interesting.
MAVERICK – I hope I’m not ruining the spirit of this thread, but, for discussion purposes, I’d like to respectfully disagree with #9 being the best one. I agree that the wife was shot beautifully and, as a married man, I could only hope that my wife would react similarly if that situation arose (no pun intended). I had a little problem with the guy cast for her lover though. I felt like someone who respected her life so much, and the sanctity of the marriage she was in, would not have chosen a ski bum to try and get those needs met. They were in different life stages. Also, as someone who has had a Viagra type product in every 5th TV commercial for my entire adult life, I found it difficult to empathize with the husband when he found out he was incapable of an erection. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what I’m missing or why I’m an idiot for not seeing something beautiful in the 9th episode.
I consider #6, (the one where the young man working in the post office spies on the older woman), not only better than the other nine episodes combined, but one of the finest films ever made. It was later released as “A Short Film About Love” but never should have been as during shooting Kieslowski let the actress talk him into shooting an alternate “happy” ending which in my opinion undermined the entire film.
Number 5 for me. It stands as a masterpiece by itself.
The ending to Dekalog 2, however, may be the best part out of the whole series- with the husband beating his sickness and telling the doctor he and his wife are having a baby, bringing back the wife’s moral conundrum and the Doctor’s own past. Genius stuff.
I’ve only seen the first five episodes so far however the only one I wouldn’t call excellent is #3 (and even that was great!). My favourite is either #1 for its emotional power, the mood it creates and I love how the relationship between the son and father is shown, or #4 for how complex the morality and how the characters should be reacting to the situations becomes.
I’ll vote for #10 primarily because it was nice to see Kieślowski try a little comedy.
4 and 6. 4 deals very sensitively with an interesting theme, a pity it didn’t get a release in its own right like Killing and Love, and i’m glad to see others here appreciate it too
@CWHASKELL
Thanks for raising some integral points reflecting the evolution of every-one’s favourite topic … sex.
Viagra was first introduced in 1998, barely 10 years ago. Kieslowski’s TV plays were aired about 10 years prior to that so the Decalogue may well be considered a ‘period’ piece (no pun intended here, either), although it is not yet a costume drama.
The choice of her sexual partner does make sense to me. In order to have a clandestine relationship, it is wise to choose someone totally out of your social and business environments. Her husband is a successful physician, her lover is a ski bum. There is likely nothing that would bind them together other than the physical aspect of their relationship. At this moment I am wondering how they met. Did the film show it? It’s been some time since I saw it. In any case one suspects she searched him out, thoughtfully measuring the pros and cons. Her own physical appearance would make her an attractive choice for any man interested. She is obviously an intelligent woman. Her husband’s profession and her own job indicate some smarts.
Seeking someone outside her own circle would be wise, of course. It is unlikely that a dropped word would find its way back to her husband. You may have heard it expressed that if you are a married man looking to have an affair, ensure that it is with a married woman. They are not as likely to talk about it as someone single.
For reference, check with Tiger Woods
By the way, the thread asked for our favourite episode, not the best. The first episode actually set me on my ear. ‘How could that happen? I had everything figured out!’ I could personally relate to his nonacceptance of the result, although fortunately not his anguish. My least favourite was one that Kieslowski turned into a stand alone film, “A short film about killing”.
Regards
@CWHASKELL
Just realized that my ‘least favourite’ was the one you chose as the best. It was not deliberate. Pretend you never read those comments. Thank you.
Just finished them this evening in fact.
My episode rankings;
1. One
2. Four (could well become my favourite on a second viewing)
3. Five
4. Nine
5. Two
6. Six
7. Three
8. Seven
9. Ten
10. Eight
Eight is clearly the worst for me. It’s is good, but…
number three, it was too painful
Although it is very difficult to quantify such a terrific set of films, with a tinge of guilt I’ll try….I see them like this:
1. VI
2. IV
3. IX
4. X
5. II
6. III
7. VII
8. V
9. I
10. VIII
I especially like A Short Film about Love, and Dekalog 4, about the father and daughter relationship, which handles issues of identity and potential incest very sensitively. That was worthy of its own release, but the strength of the Decalogue comes from the collection as a whole. Oh, i didn’t realise i’d already said as much above
I’m going with four for some of the reasons listed. It does bring up the thoughts of what constitutes parenthood. And struck me so strongly because I’m sure that in real life, this has happened quite often.
In no particular order – “Remember The Sabbath Day, To Keep It Holy”, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”, “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”, “Thou Shalt Not Steal”, “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Wife”
Dekalog I: ‘Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me’
It just shows an excellent and creative approach in exploring the Commandment in question and, as someone else has already said, ends up being extremely powerful and moving.
1st one about the computer and men being in power over nature, realized the sheer impact and power of the mere episode some time after finishing it. The means of Kieslowski is just daunting.
A tie between 1 and 6, but I love them all.
I vote 6, with my other faves in order being 3, 5, 4, 10, 7, 2, and 9. I was never that wild about 1 and 8, but now seeing all the votes for 1, I should check it out again.
I’ve only seen the first four so far, because of, well, the cup, but out of those, #4 by far.
1. IV
2. VIII
3. II
4. V
5. VI
6. III
7. X
8. IX
9. I
10. VII
I really don’t understand the lack of love for episode XIII on this thread. I thought it was incredibly moving. And I happened to think the first one was pretty predictable and a bit unbelievable. Then again, maybe that’s why he made 10. There’s something that will affect everyone.
Dekalog I by far. The first 10 min. are as good as anything ever.
I’m up to number 8 so far. 5 would have to be my favorite. It haunted my night after I watched it. 6 also stands out to me. I would also have to agree with 8 being one of the more mundane episodes.
Decalogue 6 is my favorite. Although 1 and 7 are tied for a close second.
myersc
For those of you who have seen The Decalogue, which episode is your favorite and why? Personally for me it’s Decalogue 1 because it’s so sad to see the tragedy unfold on the characters. It speaks to the genius of Kieślowski, who made a film that deals with such complex moral situations. Other favorites of mine are 5, 6, 8, and 10 but what do you think?