Decalogue III
Encyclopedia
The Decalogue - Three is a third part of the television series The Decalogue
by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski
, connected to the third imperative of the Ten Commandments
: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
. Janusz (Daniel Olbrychski
), a taxicab driver, plays Święty Mikołaj
for his children and then comes home as himself, crossing paths with Krzystof
, to his wife and children to spend the evening there. They attend Mass
in the city. He spots Ewa (Maria Pakulnis), with whom he had a torrid affair three years ago. Ewa happens upon the church after visiting her aunt in the retirement home
, the aunt is senile and mixes Ewa's ages asking if she did her homework but also inquires about her husband.
She later comes to Janusz's looking for her ex-lover, asking him for help finding her husband, who has disappeared. Janusz leaves his house saying that his taxi got stolen, his wife (Joanna Szczepowska) suspects something and suggests that he should leave it alone, he answers back that the taxi is their sole income and leaves. They spend the whole night together driving around the city and discussing past and present. Janusz still wants to go home to be with his family on Christmas evening, but Ewa is desperate and manages to keep him with her by setting up clues along the way to track her husband down. Janusz manages to catch up with her game but does not say anything.
After inquiring in hospitals and the train station, when the clock strikes seven the next morning, Ewa reveals that she was lying to Janusz, she is no longer with her husband, they divorced right after her tryst with Janusz and he has been living with his new family in Kraków
for the past three years. She is now forced to face the holidays all alone while watching other families sharing the love and peace that she does not have. If she succeeded in her game, she would seek a way of moving on, if she did not, she would have committed suicide
. They part at dawn, with Janusz returning to his family and Eva leaving with her loneliness.
Zygmunt Fok, Jacek Kalucki, Barbara Kolodziejska,
Maria Krawczyk, Jerzy Zygmunt Nowak, Piotr Rzymszkiewicz,
Wlodzimierz Rzeczycki, Wlodzimierz Musial
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...
by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski
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:...
, connected to the third imperative of the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Plot
It is Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
. Janusz (Daniel Olbrychski
Daniel Olbrychski
Daniel Olbrychski is a Polish actor best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies and also known for playing the Russian defector and spymaster Vassily Orlov, alongside Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in the movie Salt....
), a taxicab driver, plays Święty Mikołaj
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
for his children and then comes home as himself, crossing paths with Krzystof
Decalogue I
The Decalogue - One is a first part of a television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the first imperative of the Ten Commandments: "I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me."...
, to his wife and children to spend the evening there. They attend Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in the city. He spots Ewa (Maria Pakulnis), with whom he had a torrid affair three years ago. Ewa happens upon the church after visiting her aunt in the retirement home
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
, the aunt is senile and mixes Ewa's ages asking if she did her homework but also inquires about her husband.
She later comes to Janusz's looking for her ex-lover, asking him for help finding her husband, who has disappeared. Janusz leaves his house saying that his taxi got stolen, his wife (Joanna Szczepowska) suspects something and suggests that he should leave it alone, he answers back that the taxi is their sole income and leaves. They spend the whole night together driving around the city and discussing past and present. Janusz still wants to go home to be with his family on Christmas evening, but Ewa is desperate and manages to keep him with her by setting up clues along the way to track her husband down. Janusz manages to catch up with her game but does not say anything.
After inquiring in hospitals and the train station, when the clock strikes seven the next morning, Ewa reveals that she was lying to Janusz, she is no longer with her husband, they divorced right after her tryst with Janusz and he has been living with his new family in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
for the past three years. She is now forced to face the holidays all alone while watching other families sharing the love and peace that she does not have. If she succeeded in her game, she would seek a way of moving on, if she did not, she would have committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. They part at dawn, with Janusz returning to his family and Eva leaving with her loneliness.
Cast
- Daniel OlbrychskiDaniel OlbrychskiDaniel Olbrychski is a Polish actor best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies and also known for playing the Russian defector and spymaster Vassily Orlov, alongside Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in the movie Salt....
- Janusz - Maria Pakulnis - Ewa
- Joanna Szczepowska - Janusz's wife
- Artur BarciśArtur BarciśArtur Barciś is a Polish actor. He appeared in the television series Aby do świtu... in 1992. and Kieślowski's "Dekalog"-References:...
- tram-driver - Krystyna Drochocka - aunt
- Krzysztof Kumor - doctor
- Henryk Baranowski - Krzysztof
- Jacek Kalucki - policeman
- In other roles:
Zygmunt Fok, Jacek Kalucki, Barbara Kolodziejska,
Maria Krawczyk, Jerzy Zygmunt Nowak, Piotr Rzymszkiewicz,
Wlodzimierz Rzeczycki, Wlodzimierz Musial