Director
Krzysztof Kieslowski
Composer
Zbigniew Preisner
Cast
Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz, Jan Tesarz
Edition 2023
85'
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1987
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Crime, Drama
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Dialogue:
Polish, English
A Short Film About Killing is a gripping exploration of violence, morality, and the consequences of murder in a bleak urban landscape. Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski, this film delves into the lives of a young killer and a disenchanted lawyer, weaving a dark narrative that challenges our understanding of justice and humanity.
Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski viewed life as an endless dark comedy, yet his bleakness is never as intense as in this extended cinematic version of one of the episodes from his magnum opus, the TV series Dekalog in which he juxtaposes two 'executions': a horrifying, gratuitous murder (illegal) of a taxi driver and the 'official' execution (legal) of the condemned young perpetrator. Victim, criminal, and lawyer have no connection but are fatally linked by the cruel twists of fate. With eerie neutrality, the filmmaker observes the mysteries of evil committed by both the state and the individual. This radical film exudes a persistent atmosphere of unease that is not easily shaken off but provides an unforgettable cinematic experience.
"The film does not set out to explain the punkish young killer’s motivation, but restricts the viewer to his tunnel vision from the start, with the edges of the picture sludged over and a lowering yellow light at the center." - Time Out Film Guide
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Credits
Directors
Krzysztof Kieslowski
Composers
Zbigniew Preisner
Cast
Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz, Jan Tesarz
Scenario
Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Director of Photography
Slawomir Idziak
Editors
Ewa Smal
Producers
Ryszard Chutkowski
Production studios
Przedsiebiorstwo Realizacji Filmów "Zespoly Filmowe"
More info
Dialogue
Polish, English
Countries of production
Poland
Year
1987
Filmography
Krzysztof Kieslowski
Tramway (short, 1966), The Office (short, 1966), Concert of Requests (short, 1967), From the City of Lodz (short, 1969), I Was a Soldier (short, 1971), Factory (short, 1971), Before the Rally (short, 1971), Workers '71: Nothing About Us Without Us (1972), Refrain (short, 1972), Postawy BHP w kopalni miedzi (short, 1972), Bricklayer (short, 1973), X-Ray (short, 1974), Curriculum Vitae (short, 1975), The Scar (1976), Slate (short, 1976), Hospital (short, 1977), I Don't Know (1977), From a Night Porter's Point of View (short, 1979), Seven Women of Different Ages (short, 1979), Camera Buff (1979), Talking Heads (short, 1980), Railway Station (short, 1980), No End (1985), Blind Chance (1987), A Short Film About Killing (1988), A Short Film About Love (1988), Seven Days a Week - CITY LIFE - Warsaw (short, 1990), City Life (1990), The Double Life of Véronique (1991), Three Colors: Blue (1993), Three Colors: White (1994), Three Colors: Red (1994)
