Decalogue- Duncan Owen

       Released in 1988 by Krzysztof Kieślowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz, the Polish film, Decalogue, represented the differences in storytelling between European and American films. Specifically, screenwriters in American productions often showcase plot and deeper thematic elements through the plot and climax of the film. On the other hand, European films often convey the plot through specific dialogues references, and connections to the overall plot.     

    In Decalogue, viewers are reminded of situations involving the ten commandments and its inner meaning, or the Jewish tradition of Midrash. Within Judaism, the religion uses different methods to the interpretation of text, or hermeneutics. In addition, the tradition of Midrash combines the powers of remez and the darash. The remez is the focus on the deeper meaning and the darash focuses on the comparative meaning. One particular scene in Decalogue that reflects the connection of deeper meaning and its interpretation involves the death of an animal and how one of the characters involves processing grief. Viewers watch how a young boy is shocked at witnessing a dead animal and how he goes about questioning various adults in hopes of processing his grief. Specifically, the boy’s father has a more realistic perspective and viewpoint on death as it “just happens”.

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