Cheap The Decalogue (Special Edition Complete Set) (DVD) (Krzysztof Kieslowski) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Decalogue (Special Edition Complete Set)

The stories are touching and poignant (a word I thought I'd never use!) - and relevant to this day. Each is based on one of the ten commandments, and each story intertwines with the others in subtle ways (characters from one film appear in others, there's a mysterious character who watches all but 2 of the films from the outside).

So well done - Kieslowski was a phenomenal director (see the Blue, White and Red trilogy for more examples).

Emotional Innocense Lost
This moving ten part series that originally aired in Poland in 1989, and then swept across the rest of Europe in 1990 and '91, really put Kieslowski on the map as a World filmmaker. He was, of course, an extremely influential filmmaker in Poland, and his "pre-Dekalog" films had a tight band of international fans (I highly recomend No End). But with these ten fifty minute films he broke open the flood gates to his last four films- The Double Life of Veronique, and the Three Colors Trilogy. Which are, in my opinion, among the best films ever made.

The ten short features of the Decalogue mirror each one of the ten commandments in real-life situations. Watching these in order is an emotional journey that's tough to explain. The films have this Everyman feel, and somehow at the end you feel as if you've visited the apartment complex (where all ten films are set) in Warsaw. You feel with each of these stories a layer of innocense slipping away. Particualry enjoyable was Honor thy Father, and Though Shalt not Commit Adultery (which was turned into the somwewhat dissapointing 90 minute film A Short Film About Love).

I recomend these films highly. You won't regret the purchase . . . unless your favorite director is Michael Bay.

Patience is a requirement.
I bought this DVD set because I was such a huge fan of Blue, White & Red. I also enjoyed the Double Life of Veronique. I found the premise intrigue with the Decalogue. I mean, 10 one hour stories base on each different commandment. First of all, let me say it isn't obvious, which makes it very very good indeed. It doesn't hit you on the head with "HAVE NO OTHER GOD OTHER THAN ME". But the patience required in viewing these is to view all ten because it is truly a remarkable achievement in story telling AND in conveying the 10 commandments in a way no other filmmaker can do, except for this wonderful director. I can tell you now, that it will not be for everyone. The story is in Polish with english subtitles, but it's best to watch it that way because, just like in american films, people's subtle way of talking and stresses ads as much to the film itself than mere dialogue. Kieslowski intended the story to be told in that way and dubbed dialogue would, perhaps, ruin those little subtle nuances. But the key to the decalogue is not the film itself, but the lesson and honesty it protrays in the story and in the film making process. It let us know that a story that has been read millions of time and told thousands of times and probably film in dozens of ways, can be shown in a refreshing, wonderful light that one can never hope to imagine and inspire us to look at the bible again. There is no glitz here, no CGI, in fact the set takes a backseat. It is the story that matters and the wondeful thing about these stories is that the people act normal. No overly dramatic characters is what makes this film a worthwhile see. If you are a film student, it is a must see. This is the type of work that leads to discussions and that is a good thing. The one drawback that I have with this is that the video is rather dark. But then again, it was filmed quite awhile ago. Another note, you have to be in somewhat and openminded and serious mood to watch this film.