A Short Film About Killing

Dir: Krsysztof Kieslowski
Star: Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz, Jan Tesarz, Zbigniew Zapasiewicz

[6] The 12", disco remix cinema version of one of his Ten Commandments series, shown recently on BBC2, is perhaps the best argument I've seen against capital punishment. It depicts the crime and the state's retribution in stark focus, comparing them and noting uncomfortable similarities. Initially a study of three characters - the murderer, his victim and the defence lawyer - it gradually focuses on the first and last, then finally the lawyer alone. A savage indictment of violence, committed by individuals or society.

9/10

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