Tuesday 3 November 2009

A Short Film About Love [1988]


An expansion of the sixth chapter of his legendary Decalogue miniseries, Polish master Krzysztof Kieslowski’s A Short Film About Love, though on paper a cinematic recreation of the Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”, is far more profound than that. It is a poetic and emotionally enthralling exploration of themes ranging from voyeurism and teenage obsession to loneliness and unrequited love. The crisply timed and leisurely paced movie is about a young, shy and mild-mannered postal office worker and closet Peeping Tom, Tomak, who spies on the love life of an older lady, Magda, through his telescope, and has eventually fallen in love with her. His infatuation towards the sexually active and philandering Magda has grown to silent worship. However, his world comes crashing down with devastating repercussions when she lets him know in the most blatant way possible that she believes there’s no such thing as Platonic love – all that really matters is the act of making love. The evocatively photographed and scored movie is as hauntingly beautiful as it is emotionally powerful, despite its beak exterior. The understated psychological depth of the movie (the silent yearning for love in an increasingly cold urban jungle) would later be propelled to stratospheric heights in his masterwork Three Colors.









Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Genre: Drama/Psychological Drama/Urban Drama/Romance
Language: Polish
Country: Poland

9 comments:

Just Another Film Buff said...

A really haunting movie as you fittingly put. Interestingly, it evokes a much deeper reaction when watched as an episode in the phenomenal Dekalog.

Shubhajit said...

Decalogue is a tad hard to get hold of; nonetheless, my sights are firmly set on it.

Sam Juliano said...

"It is a poetic and emotionally enthralling exploration of themes ranging from voyeurism and teenage obsession to loneliness and unrequited love."

Indeed Shubhajit, indeed. It is in the end an emotionally powerful chapter in Kieslowski's masterpiece, and in my view the second best of the installments behind A SHORT FILM ABOUT KILLING. I have DECALOGUE and can easily make a copy of the set for you without charge. Send me your address, Shubhajit to: TheFountain26@aol.com

Shubhajit said...

Sam, thanks a lot for your views as well as the gesture. I don't know how feasible would that be cos I reside in India, and I presume you reside in the US. Nonetheless I'll get in touch via email in case there happens to be a means which would not put you in inconvenience.

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

I ve recently got a unlimited download connection. now i will go down your list of movies one by one and hopefully have a fantasic cinemtaic experience...

new post... come read...

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

Can you or any of your readers give me a link to download The White Balloon? None of the torrents i find seem to be properly seeded.

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

kobita ta ki sho-rochito jigesh korar ki maane? amar blog e ami onnyo karur rochito kobita ki korte lagabo?

Shubhajit said...

Awesome!!! Have a great time, and do post your views on each movie from my review list that you watch. As for downloading White Balloon, I don't think I can be of much help there. I'll let you know if I come to know.

Purchase Viagra said...

This is great because these are the kind of films I like, because love is almost my name, my friend use to cal me "The lover because I spend my time watching love movies."