LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

IncaWelCar In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

TheLittleSongbird The more work I see of Krzysztof Kieslowski, the stronger the feeling that he was an incredibly gifted director, responsible for some brilliant work, taken from us too soon.Have yet to see anything bad from him, with even my least favourite (the eighth episode of 'Dekalog') still being very good, with the masterful 'Dekalog' and 'Three Colors: Red' (all three "Three Colors" films are must watches, but especially 'Red') being particularly great. Originally the fifth episode of 'Dekalog', and one of its finest episodes, 'A Short Film About Killing' was expanded into a feature length film and the result is something quite brilliant.As ever, 'A Short Film About Killing' is visually striking, gritty yet beautiful with many thoughtful and emotionally powerful images lingering long into the memory. Kieslowski's direction is quietly unobtrusive, intelligently paced and never too heavy, and the music is suitably intricate.On top of that, the story is creepy (reminding any Fyodor Dostoyevsky readers of 'Crime and Punishment') with some shocking scenes and a wide range of emotions. It really shows Kieslowski's mastery of narrative construction and also was impressed with how the subject matter was told very matter of factly but still with incredible emotional power.The themes and ideals are used to full potential, and the characters and their relationships and conflicts feel so real and emotionally resonant without being heavy-handed. The sparse dialogue is bleak, thought-provoking with some real pathos at times, parts that really chill and some subtle black humour. The complexity and nuance of the acting is to be very much admired, with Mirosław Baka's once seen never forgotten performance standing out.All in all, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox

bjhendo An awful lot goes through your mind whie watching this. It's certainly not a cheery film and most Kieslowski films are very dreary, Perhaps the most realistic crime film ever made . Not much is said verbally with the main Character it's all told through his actions and body language. We have all walked the streets alone , felt isolated and alone. Much of this story is about loneliness. Even the victim is a loner finding comfort in his small confined taxi. I won't give too much away about the story. a must see and if your not a fan of foreign cinema this is one of the easier to follow, told simplistic. It's a difficult and challenging film and apparently changed Polands judicial system it had so much power. A masterpiece but a little bleak to be perfect .

grantss An understated gem from Krzysztof Kieslowski. On the surface a movie about crime and punishment, but it is more an examination of the appropriateness and humaneness of the death penalty. Who is really the killer? Also briefly tackles fate, and decisions.The plot is well-developed, with the main characters involved and their lives being introduced well before the crucial point in the movie. The tale is enhanced, if not entirely made, by the cinematography. It seems cheap, or outdated, but the rather lo fi imagery is perfect for the movie, giving it a grim, gritty feel.Solid performances all round.

bandw The three main players are introduced individually--Jacek, the killer, Jan (Jacek's victim), and Piotr the defense lawyer. During this setup I was not sure how these three would come together, or if they would. Jacek is a drifter who projects danger (aided by the music). He drops a rock off a bridge onto oncoming cars and walks away. Jan is a taxi driver who delights in offending his customers. Kieslowski does not make it easy, neither Jan nor Jacek are particularly likable, in fact are rather unlikable, except Jacek is allowed some humanity toward the end when he tells of his unfortunate past. The first killing is the most gruesome I have seen. It went on long enough to turn my stomach many times over. The second killing, the execution, is an unspeakably dreary piece of work indeed--the state sanctioned killing in a drab government prison where all the participants are efficiently going about their tasks left me feeling mighty low.Piotr is initially elated that he passed his law exams and was enthusiastic about entering the profession. But, in defending Jacek, he sees that he has gotten into deep water by becoming personally involved. Piotr redeems the film from its total bleakness by showing that it is possible to retain your humanity even in the face of dismal events. Score a positive mark for Piotr.Jacek's motivations are left unclear. He is proud to offer a girlfriend a ride in Jan's taxi, but is the desire for a car motivation for the murder? I think Kieslowski has made the motivations vague and has made Jacek and Jan not terribly sympathetic to make the point that there is no justification for murder, either individually or by the state, regardless of who is involved. Unfortunately those whose opinions about capital punishment might be swayed are not likely to seek out this dark film.I suppose the title should have warned me that this would not be a walk in the park, but I was not prepared for the exacting realism throughout.