A Short Film About Killing
Encyclopedia
A Short Film About Killing is a 1988 film directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski
expanded from the fifth episode
in the Polish television series Dekalog
. Set in Warsaw
, Poland
, it compares capital punishment
with murder
s committed by individuals.
It won the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival
, as well as the prize for Best Film at the European Film Awards.
, the power to ignore people whom he does not want to take into his taxi, and leering at young women.
Jacek Łazar (Mirosław Baka
) is a 21 year-old drifter
who arrives from the countryside. He aimlessly wanders the streets of Warsaw
and seems to take pleasure in causing other people's misfortunes. For example, he throws a stranger into the urinals of a public toilet after realizing his intent to hit on him, he drops stones from a bridge on to passing vehicles causing an accident, and scares away pigeons to spite an old lady who feeds them. The third main character is Piotr Balicki (Krzysztof Globisz
), a young and idealistic lawyer who is about to take the bar exam.
Piotr passes his exam and is very happy, he takes his wife to a café where they discuss their future. Jacek has had a photograph of a little girl blown up and then goes to the same cafe where Piotr is with his wife. The taxi driver wanders around the city looking for a fare. Jacek keeps a length of rope
in his bag and a stick; he wraps a bit of rope around his hand but stops when he spots two girls playing at the other side of the window at the cafe and he engages in a game with them. He then goes to a taxi stand and jumps into Rekowski's taxi. Jacek asks to be driven to a remote part of the city near the countryside and insists the driver take a longer and more remote route. When they finally reach their destination Jacek tries to kill the taxi driver with the rope but is disturbed by passers by and hides, waiting for them to leave. As he waits, the driver is still breathing and has mustered enough strength to try to free his neck from the rope but to no avail. Jacek then proceeds to complete his gruesome task by grabbing a large rock and repeatedly smashing the barely conscious taxi driver over the head with it. He then takes the taxi to the river and prepares to dump the body. Jacek turns on the radio and a children's song can be heard, which clearly upsets him as he rips out the radio and discards it.
Jacek takes the taxi signs away and drives the car to a grocery store where he talks to a girl seen earlier in the film, she jumps into the car and recognises a clown's head that was hanging at the taxi and asks Jacek where he got the car.
Jacek is subsequently caught and imprisoned. He is interviewed by his criminal defense lawyer
, Piotr, for whom this is his very first case after finishing his legal studies. Piotr has little chance of winning the case against Jacek because of the strong evidence
against his client and a clear motive
for the murder. However, Piotr is told afterwards by the trial judge
that he had made some compelling arguments and his legal strategy was rather convincing. In spite of Piotr's efforts, the verdict of the trial is inevitable: Jacek is found guilty and sentenced to death
by hanging
.
In the moments before his scheduled execution, Jacek reveals that his baby sister was killed by a tractor
which his friend had been driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. He also reveals that it was he who his friend was drinking with just beforehand and that he had never fully recovered from the entire tragic episode. He then requests that he be given the final space in his family's grave which was initially reserved for his mother and that he be buried next to his sister and his father and the enlarged photo be given to his mother. This scene is perhaps the closest the audience gets to an explanation or possible motive as to why Jacek committed this brutal murder and indicates he may have unresolved issues over his sister's death.
Eventually, despite the lawyer's proclamation that they 'will never be ready' in response to a number of phone calls made by the prosecution, the execution is ready to proceed. Jacek is brought from his cell and marched to the execution chamber by around six policemen. The confirmation of his sentence is then read to him as well as the decision to deny clemency. He is offered a final cigarette and takes a few puffs before it is stubbed out. Just before he is hanged, he breaks free from his guards and begins to yell uncontrollably before his hands are shackled and he is quickly hanged with ruthless efficiency. The execution is carried out with just as much cold-bloodedness as the murder itself. The film ends with Piotr sobbing in his car in a field.
and VI
.
Although the main plot in both works is the same, Dekalog V has a different order in editing
and makes more use of voice-over
, where as the film starts differently and gives a more prominent role to Piotr, the lawyer. Dekalog V suddenly jumps from the killing scene to jail and there is no connection or explanation on how Jacek got arrested. A few scenes and lines of dialogue do not feature in Dekalog V, to keep it within the time limitations for TV as intended.
Krzysztof Kieslowski
Krzysztof Kieślowski was an Academy Award nominated influential Polish film director and screenwriter, known internationally for The Double Life of Veronique and his film cycles The Decalogue and Three Colors.-Early life:...
expanded from the fifth episode
Decalogue V
The Decalogue - V is a fifth part of the television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the fifth imperative of the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not kill....
in the Polish television series Dekalog
The Decalogue
The Decalogue is a 1989 Polish television drama series directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski and co-written by Kieślowski with Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with music by Zbigniew Preisner...
. Set in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, it compares capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
with murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
s committed by individuals.
It won the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival
1988 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Ettore Scola*Claude Berri*David Robinson*Yelena Safonova*George Miller*Hector Olivera*Nastassja Kinski*Philippe Sarde*Robby Muller*William Goldman-Feature film competition:* A World Apart by Chris Menges...
, as well as the prize for Best Film at the European Film Awards.
Cast
- Mirosław Baka - Jacek Lazar
- Krzysztof Globisz - Piotr Balicki (Advocate)
- Jan Tesarz - Waldemar Rekowski (Taxi driver)
- Zbigniew Zapasiewicz - Chairman of the committee
- Barbara Dziekan - Cashier
- Aleksander Bednarz - The executioner
- Jerzy Zass - Police commander
- Zdzisław Tobiasz - Judge
- Artur Barciś - Young Man
- Krystyna Janda - Dorota
- Olgierd Łukaszewicz - Andrzej
- Peter Falchi - British motorist
Plot
The film focuses on three main characters: The first is Waldemar Rekowski, a middle-aged taxicab driver (Jan Tesarz), overweight and cruel-looking, he lives in the same apartment building as many of the other characters in the series. He enjoys the freedom of his profession, a living wageLiving wage
In public policy, a living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs . These needs include shelter and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition...
, the power to ignore people whom he does not want to take into his taxi, and leering at young women.
Jacek Łazar (Mirosław Baka
Mirosław Baka
Mirosław Baka is a Polish actor. He appeared in the comedy television series Bao-Bab, czyli zielono mi in 2003.-References:...
) is a 21 year-old drifter
Vagabond (person)
A vagabond is a drifter and an itinerant wanderer who roams wherever they please, following the whim of the moment. Vagabonds may lack residence, a job, and even citizenship....
who arrives from the countryside. He aimlessly wanders the streets of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and seems to take pleasure in causing other people's misfortunes. For example, he throws a stranger into the urinals of a public toilet after realizing his intent to hit on him, he drops stones from a bridge on to passing vehicles causing an accident, and scares away pigeons to spite an old lady who feeds them. The third main character is Piotr Balicki (Krzysztof Globisz
Krzysztof Globisz
Krzysztof Globisz is a Polish theatre and film actor. His best known role is as Piotr Balicki, the newly qualified barrister whose opinion of capital punishment undergoes a radical change in A Short Film About Killing directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski.-External links:...
), a young and idealistic lawyer who is about to take the bar exam.
Piotr passes his exam and is very happy, he takes his wife to a café where they discuss their future. Jacek has had a photograph of a little girl blown up and then goes to the same cafe where Piotr is with his wife. The taxi driver wanders around the city looking for a fare. Jacek keeps a length of rope
Rope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
in his bag and a stick; he wraps a bit of rope around his hand but stops when he spots two girls playing at the other side of the window at the cafe and he engages in a game with them. He then goes to a taxi stand and jumps into Rekowski's taxi. Jacek asks to be driven to a remote part of the city near the countryside and insists the driver take a longer and more remote route. When they finally reach their destination Jacek tries to kill the taxi driver with the rope but is disturbed by passers by and hides, waiting for them to leave. As he waits, the driver is still breathing and has mustered enough strength to try to free his neck from the rope but to no avail. Jacek then proceeds to complete his gruesome task by grabbing a large rock and repeatedly smashing the barely conscious taxi driver over the head with it. He then takes the taxi to the river and prepares to dump the body. Jacek turns on the radio and a children's song can be heard, which clearly upsets him as he rips out the radio and discards it.
Jacek takes the taxi signs away and drives the car to a grocery store where he talks to a girl seen earlier in the film, she jumps into the car and recognises a clown's head that was hanging at the taxi and asks Jacek where he got the car.
Jacek is subsequently caught and imprisoned. He is interviewed by his criminal defense lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defenders. For a much more...
, Piotr, for whom this is his very first case after finishing his legal studies. Piotr has little chance of winning the case against Jacek because of the strong evidence
Evidence (law)
The law of evidence encompasses the rules and legal principles that govern the proof of facts in a legal proceeding. These rules determine what evidence can be considered by the trier of fact in reaching its decision and, sometimes, the weight that may be given to that evidence...
against his client and a clear motive
Motive (law)
A motive, in law, especially criminal law, is the cause that moves people to induce a certain action. Motive, in itself, is not an element of any given crime; however, the legal system typically allows motive to be proven in order to make plausible the accused's reasons for committing a crime, at...
for the murder. However, Piotr is told afterwards by the trial judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
that he had made some compelling arguments and his legal strategy was rather convincing. In spite of Piotr's efforts, the verdict of the trial is inevitable: Jacek is found guilty and sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
.
In the moments before his scheduled execution, Jacek reveals that his baby sister was killed by a tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
which his friend had been driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. He also reveals that it was he who his friend was drinking with just beforehand and that he had never fully recovered from the entire tragic episode. He then requests that he be given the final space in his family's grave which was initially reserved for his mother and that he be buried next to his sister and his father and the enlarged photo be given to his mother. This scene is perhaps the closest the audience gets to an explanation or possible motive as to why Jacek committed this brutal murder and indicates he may have unresolved issues over his sister's death.
Eventually, despite the lawyer's proclamation that they 'will never be ready' in response to a number of phone calls made by the prosecution, the execution is ready to proceed. Jacek is brought from his cell and marched to the execution chamber by around six policemen. The confirmation of his sentence is then read to him as well as the decision to deny clemency. He is offered a final cigarette and takes a few puffs before it is stubbed out. Just before he is hanged, he breaks free from his guards and begins to yell uncontrollably before his hands are shackled and he is quickly hanged with ruthless efficiency. The execution is carried out with just as much cold-bloodedness as the murder itself. The film ends with Piotr sobbing in his car in a field.
Differences with Dekalog V
According to the funding deal that Kieślowski had with TV Poland to make the Dekalog series, two of the episodes would be expanded into films. The decision came down to Dekalog VDecalogue V
The Decalogue - V is a fifth part of the television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the fifth imperative of the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not kill....
and VI
Decalogue VI
The Decalogue - VI is a sixth part of the television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the sixth imperative of the Ten Commandments: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."...
.
Although the main plot in both works is the same, Dekalog V has a different order in editing
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and makes more use of voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
, where as the film starts differently and gives a more prominent role to Piotr, the lawyer. Dekalog V suddenly jumps from the killing scene to jail and there is no connection or explanation on how Jacek got arrested. A few scenes and lines of dialogue do not feature in Dekalog V, to keep it within the time limitations for TV as intended.