[CYCLE] THE DECALOGUE 8 : thou shall not lie

On the occasion of the re-release in restored version of the ten parts of the Decalogue of Kieslowski distributed by Diaphana, back on one of the works of the founders of cinema is the european post-Walesa, a monument of ten hours made by one of the greatest directors of his time. Box of various themes and navigating between the social and the religion, we chroniquerons the entirety of the episodes, four hands, with each day a new article. Study on a case-by-case basis within a follow-up analysis more broad : we find the author behind the quilt, the thought behind the human drama.

The Decalogue 1
The Decalogue 2
The Decalogue 3

The Decalogue 4
The Decalogue 5
The Decalogue 6

The Decalogue 7
The Decalogue 8
The Decalogue 9

The Decalogue 10

Neither shalt thou not follows the meeting of two women, one a writer and the other translator of his works, which have a common past. A drama on the truth, the Holocaust, and forgiveness, where the intimate stories of two human beings and that of the Poland encounter in a film typical of Kieslowski.

THE DECALOGUE 8 – Thou shall not lie

THE DECALOGUE 8 opens on to a debate about the events of the second episode of the series. It is an introspection unexpected and original on the part of krzysztof Kieslowski, which gives in fact the tone of this episode, probably one of the most intellectual of the ten : here, we are talking about the past, and philosopher. Herein, we report stories, we try to understand and explain, we think, and it extrapolates.

It is the peculiarity of this DECALOGUE : the drama, here, is past. It took place during the war, and has long since been buried by some of the protagonists. It is this special feature that makes the emotion of this episode more difficult : it relates to the regrets, the long rancour and the distant pain of his characters.

“The testimony of the scars of the holocaust in Poland, there is the portrait of subtle indelible scars of war in the soul and in the heart of each individual.”

More than a past intimate, it is also the history of a country which is interested Kieslowski. Testimony of the scars of the holocaust in Poland, there is the portrait of subtle indelible scars of war in the soul and in the heart of each individual. An eternal mourning according to three points of view (the good, the weak and the victim), which is able to capture the deep malaise of one face and to extend it to the societal scale.

One could wonder about the meaning of the command associated with this episode. It is not really a question of lying (” Thou shall not lie “), but more the weight of words. Their importance, for us and for others. What a story, or a choice, can have consequences on someone. In a way, it brings a lot of this episode the second – to which reference is made in one of the first scenes : the idea of the dilemma here is a pivot. Except that instead of be located temporally at the time of this choice, the story takes place many years after, in order to analyze the chain of events that has resulted – and, therefore, to be able to say whether, in hindsight, it was yes or no of an error.

“More than questioning the nature of his message, Kieslowski makes us wonder about our own perception.”

Words can have a lot of meaning. Kieslowski makes pardons, explanations and confrontations. Yet, they are never aggressive – always sweet and thoughtful, they are the image of this episode : surgical, cold, and slightly ambiguous. After this final look, we think the true meaning of the DECALOGUE 8 : if Kieslowski is announced in the lie, why has there been an announcement of truth ?

Two analyses are then offered to the viewer : take this truth as it is, violent, and unjust, and to live in the accepting. Would it be better had to lie ? Or what is announced as a truth in fact would be a lie, well camouflaged : and if all of this was just illusions and entourloupes ? More than questioning the nature of his message, Kieslowski makes us wonder about our own perception : are we ready to believe the lack of sense and injustice, or would prefer to be the logical explanation and tragic ?

It is, of course, to push far and confused the true theme of this eighth episode. But it has the merit of being able to evoke the qualities of the DECALOGUE of krzysztof Kieslowski : to be able to interpret, in the multiple stories, different conclusions based on our own experience. Everyone can see a little of his person in each character, as it often poses universal questions about the nature of man – even if the contexts in which they operate are often very specific.

This is the great strength of this saga, which, in the manner of the Tables of the Law on which it is based, tends to talk to all of them. But rather than write a general statement applicable to specific cases, Kieslowski presents us with situations unique stretch rules – not absolute, but infinitely disorders. THE DECALOGUE 8, in particular, poses more questions than it solves.

KamaradeFifien

Your opinion ?

INFORMATION

• Original title : Jeden Dekalog

• Realization : Krzysztof Kieslowski

• Scenario : Krzysztof Kieslowski

• Main actors : Maja Komorowska, Wojciech Klata, Henryk Baranowski

• Country of origin : Poland

• Output EN : June 29, 2016

• Output POL: 1988

• Duration : 10 parts of 50 min

• Distributor : Diaphana Distribution