For the past two weeks I’ve been slowly making my way through Krzysztof Kieslowski’s ten hour miniseries ‘The Decalogue’. It’s really more of a collection of ten one hour films, because they don’t really have any through line except for the setting of the apartment complex and the theme of the ten commandments. But aside from that, each episode is a separate story with separate characters. 

As I watched the series, I wrote a mini-review for each episode as I went. This review is a collection of these ‘mini-reviews’ for each episode.

EPISODE RANKING LIST

DEKALOG ONE - "thou shalt not have other gods before me"

I didn’t know what to expect going into this series, but this really set the stage. Once the credits rolled I sort of curled up in a ball for a couple minutes before calming down a bit. This was really heavy. If every episode is like this I’m not sure my heart can take it. Great first impression, and it’s visually very beautiful. Don’t really understand the importance of the man by the fire, but I guess that may be explained in later episodes.

DEKALOG TWO - "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"

This episode took a softer and more subtle approach. While being a slower burn with a less defined emotional climax, it was still compelling. There were some particularly beautiful shots, such as the final scene of the windows, the sick husband, and the insect in the cup. Like how did he do that. Really into it so far. Also the guy by the fire is now the attendant at the hospital, it’s like the Stan Lee of the Dekalog.

DEKALOG THREE - "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy"

This is probably the most subdued episode yet. There’s no major stakes, it’s all in one day, and it’s even somewhat cheerful (yet still bittersweet) episode. A character study of a somewhat broken person who is struggling with being alone on Christmas Eve. Each episode Kieslowski brings in a new cinematographer, and this one may be the best looking one yet. The way he plays with light and windows is really clever and makes sense with the episodes themes of longing and self reflection.

DEKALOG FOUR - "honor thy father and thy mother"

This was a strange one. Most of this episode takes place in one house, as a daughter and father grapple with newfound discoveries about their relations. This is a very personal series, and this might be the most personal yet. It feels like you shouldn’t be watching - like you’re spying on real people with real struggles interacting. The cinematography for this episode was a lot more quaint and simplistic, far from the stylistic colourization and reflections of the previous episode. I love how each episode has a different feel, a different story, different people. It doesn’t draw out one story to 10 hours like a normal TV show, it tells 10 stories - 1 hour each.

DEKALOG FIVE - "thou shalt not kill"

This is the grittiest and bleakest episode yet. A true moral question of society, killing, and capital punishment. Is the death penalty just as senseless as the senseless murder it is punishing? This episode is beautiful. The cinematographer chosen for this part was Slawomir Idziak (who would later do ‘Three Colors: Blue’,) and he brought a distinctive visual style to this episode that sets it apart from the previous ones. A colour palette mostly comprised of yellows and greens, lighting that shrouds the area around the focus in shadows - like a spotlight. A man looks through his fist and then closes it, sending the viewer into darkness. Fitting visuals for the tone of the episode. The biggest highlight of the episode for me was seeing the reappearing man (Artur Barcis) stop before the taxi minutes before the murder. He looks into the eyes of the murderer, as if he knows what he will soon do, but is powerless to do anything about it.

DEKALOG SIX - "thou shalt not commit adultery"

Easily the best episode so far. While not as visually intense as the previous one, the plot, script, and characters make this the most compelling episode yet. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and emotional, this episode succeeds in everything that makes the series great. Also I love the Artur Barcis cameo this time, he just gets bumped into and stares at Tamek knowingly and then gives this faint grin. What a god. If this ended how I thought it would end I would’ve been destroyed, but I’m really happy my suspicions were false. Phenomenal episode.

DEKALOG SEVEN - "thou shalt not steal"

Not one of my favourites so far, but still very good. An interesting moral dilemma between two people, and who is right is always ambiguous. The cinematography in this episode was a bit uninspired, save for a few great shots (train leaving station). The middle felt a bit unfocused, but that clearly cleared up for the last fifteen minutes. Overall still a pretty solid episode.

DEKALOG EIGHT - "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor"

Probably the worst episode so far. Not bad by any means (this series is still miles above most TV), but it lacks the bite most of the other episodes have. It feels too exposition heavy, for pretty weak payoff. The cinematography is nice though, lots of shadowy master shots that brings forth the feeling of dug up memory. Perfect for the theme of the episode. Still, this is probably my least favourite so far, but still pretty good.

DEKALOG NINE - "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife"

Leagues better than the previous episode in every regard. Cinematography, performances, story, characters, and BITE. This episode was shot beautifully, the way Kieslowski focuses on details such as the dirt on the spinning bike wheel harkens back to the fly in episode two. The shot in the elevator where the light alternated between their faces was mesmerizing, and the performances from the two leads were some of the best this whole series. The story packs an intense emotional bite, and was a very compelling send off to Artur Barcis’ seemingly supernatural character - who will not appear in episode ten. I’d say this is the second best episode so far, behind episode six.

DEKALOG TEN - "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods"

What. A. Finish. Holy shit. Best episode. I laughed way too hard.

The final episode of the Dekalog is a dark comedy. While the first nine were hard dramas focusing on depressing and deep personal dilemmas, the finale is actually really funny. The sketchy situations these two brothers find themselves in is perpetually hilarious as it spirals out of control - and also sentimental and bittersweet at the end. This was a fantastic send-off to the series, and I’d put it as my favourite of the episodes.

SERIES THOUGHTS

Dekalog is an astounding achievement in cinema history. Ten hours of individual stories tightly pack so many themes, ideas, and beauty that you can spend countless hours theorizing and speculating. The cinematography, lighting, and shot composition ranged from good to phenomenal, and each episode still looks better than most TV today. I love how Kieslowski focuses on details that help excentuate the larger picture. Like the insect in the glass, or the dirt on the spinning bike. Small everyday things that are a world of their own if considered. Even if a couple episodes were a bit weak (still very good by Dekalog standards), the whole package is honestly one of the best TV series I’ve ever watched - and is certainly deserving of my rating.