A Short Film About Killing (1988)
Compared to the other Kieslowski films I have watched, this was pretty dark and brutal. Shot with a sickly green tint giving an overall depressive atmosphere.
The movie tells the story about two different kinds of killing. A meaningless murder and the following execution of the murderer. We see both killings in excruciating detail showing the meticulous preperation and process it takes to kill another human being. No need for a bombastic soundtrack or other tricks to print a certain emotion in the viewer. Just raw footage of two people dying.
Where I think Kieslowski excel is in what he doesn’t show. We don’t see the trial, just the conclusion. We don’t really get an explanation or background for the murderers motivation. The viewer can fill in the blanks if needed, but they are not necessary.
While the main focus is on the young man who kills and becomes executed, I felt the real story was with the young lawyer. How he starts at being excited for passing his exam and then only a year later becomes emotional broken on what his dream job actually requires.
Rating: 4