Anne Taylor Robertson Blog 1: Decalogue

Kieslowski’s ten-part series known as Decalogue uses the Jewish technique of Midrash to bring the viewer into a more personal experience of the film. While peshat focuses on the literal meaning of the text, and sod focuses on the interpretive meaning, midrash is a method of making sense between the two. The episodes of Decalogue are beautiful in their own way - giving character and life to the tragedy in human experience. There is a sense of audience omniscience in these episodes, like when we can just know that something sad is going to happen to the little boy on the frozen lake. Midrash helps us understand that it is not the literal story of the film (though it is important) that is powerful, but rather a combination of the literal meaning and the underlying meaning. Kieslowski’s characterization and film technique brings the audience into a compelling and heart-wrenching story in each of his episodes, using darkness and quiet to bring the viewer into a more realistic type of film. There are few full-length feature films to which we can truly relate. Most movies have soundtracks, scores, lighting, animation and often unrealistic plot lines which are unable to relate to real life. Kieslowski adds reality through Midrash when he strips down film to the bare minimum, focusing more on what we see in our everyday lives. There are no soundtracks, there are no artistic animations and fabricated lighting or action sequences. Real life has only man-made law, consequences, and relationship. This is what it comes down to in Kieslowski’s films, making them quintessentially human.