The Decalogue (TV Mini Series) Dekalog, trzy (1989) User Reviews

One of the more thematically broad episodes

[Polaris_DiB · 7/10 · 31 July 2006]

This is another episode which doesn't fully engulf itself in the requisite commandment "Thou shalt honor the Sabbath Day," but it still works as a very good and well-crafted story.

One night on Christmas a man gets a call from an old paramour, and hiding it from his wife decides to go meet her to see what she needs. She pulls him along on a broad and wild goose chase to try to have some companionship, and also to reinforce her hope. In the process he begins to analyze his latent feelings for her and they discuss their previous relationship.

It does work thematically as a story of a man neglecting his familial and religious duties to reflect upon something he shouldn't have done in the first place, and the punishment he eventually will receive for it. An interesting aside is to note how even though it's clear he suspects mostly what's going on, he still goes along with it. Why is unclear, but a large part of what keeps this film interesting and engaging.

--PolarisDiB

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"

[ackstasis · 7/10 · 6 February 2011]

I watched the first two episodes of Kieslowski's "Dekalog" in 2007, and then inexplicably stopped there. I don't understand why, since I remember the episodes – particularly the first one – as being supremely moving and emotional works. Episode 3 doesn't have the emotional punch of its two predecessors, but remains an exquisitely-made and often haunting one-hour drama. The loneliness of the story's characters is completely heartbreaking, playing on the irony that, for many people, Christmas Eve can be the loneliest night of all.

On the night of Christmas Eve, taxi driver and husband Janusz (Daniel Olbrychski) falsely reports the theft of his car, and spends the night with Ewa (Maria Pakulnis), a former old mistress who harbours mixed feelings towards their prior relationship. Interestingly, no adulterous behaviour actually takes place; Janusz agrees to help find Ewa's partner, whom she claims has been lost since noon. They drive through the eerily deserted Polish streets, visiting morgues and railway stations, while trying to reconcile their chequered history.

The couple engage in a needless high-speed pursuit from the police. Perhaps Janusz's guilt at abandoning his wife on Christmas Eve led him to flee punishment, despite being the legal owner of the car. Or perhaps such moments of adrenaline, with the suicidal Ewa refusing to wear a seatbelt, are an attempt to recapture the sexual excitement of their former adulterous relationship, an element probably missing from Janusz's conventional home life.

A detailed account of a restless night between an unreliable husband and a seducer affected by a solitude syndrome.

[Aquilant · 8/10 · 19 March 2005]

There are some points in common between this movie ("Honour the Sabbath Day") and the third one in the six Rohmerian Moral tales series, "Ma nuit chez Maud", since the first sequences (ill-concealed feelings of desire born in the inmost recesses of the soul during the midnight mass), up to the reassuring epilogue. "Dekalog 3" is a detailed account of a restless night on the "streets that follow like a tedious argument of insidious intent to lead (you) to an overwhelming question" (I know these verses are from "The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S.Eliot, my favorite poem by far, but they are more than suitable to describe the situation) between an unreliable husband and a seducer affected by a solitude syndrome, ideally linked to the Rohmerian characters Suzanne, Maud, Haydee and Chloé. This episode is completely plunged into an alienating nocturnal atmosphere described in a very impersonal way; as expression of his emotional detachment the director keeps his distance from the matter being represented, telling the hard truth about the potential destruction of a family without any frills, describing the despairing remembrance of a nostalgic past full of unhealed wounds with a few special touches of his genius. A sort of Scorsesian "After hours", lacking of every grotesque features and plunged in a metabolizing melancholy that leaves a bitter taste in our mouths at the sight of Ewe's touching persistence, at the sound of her imploring voice, at the tearing awareness of her past and future solitude. Ghastly lights of the town can be seen everywhere: street lamps, headlights, milicja's blue beams, dazzling lights, neon lamps shedding a cold light, blinks in the wet, smooth asphalt, reflecting images against the background of a real life drama concerning the life of ordinary people. The report is strictly impersonal, cold and detached, molded like wax from a shapeless substance in Kieslowski's hands, sweetened with a sprinkling of human sentiments to soften the asexual materiality of a "brief encounter" between two ill-matched sentiments: a coldness cleansed from the slightest shadow of passion and a bitterness striving to force a crystallized situation of stalemate. And not by chance dreary greenish tonalities of an anonymous station with closed circuit cameras tinge with disappointment the epilogue of this story of ordinary dreariness framed within the context of a distressing urban landscape, recalling some Wendersian stereotypes of industrial subculture.

Decalogue 3

[Michael_Elliott · 14 November 2008]

Decalogue: Three, The (1989)

*** (out of 4)

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy", is what taxi driver Janusz (Daniel Olbrycheski) is trying to do but a woman (Maria Pakulnis) from his past shows up asking him to help look for her missing husband. I've read that certain episodes jump to different commandments and that's certainly true here as the overall message seems to aim more at adultery and lying. As with the previous two installments, this one here is flawless in terms of acting and the directing is top-notch as well. Once again I think the biggest key for the viewer is how well he can connect to the story and overall I thought this one was better than the second but fell quite short of the first. What I liked most about this third chapter is, once again, the way the director and screenwriter make it so fresh compared to other films that dealt with religion. This film doesn't ask simple question and it never gives us any simple answers about what's going on. One thing different here is that the film really has a strange and surreal nature to it that I'd compare to Scorsese's After Hours. With the red Christmas lights flashing throughout the film, the empty streets and the secrets between the two characters, this segment really struck me more along the lines of a mystery. You could also say the film is about regret and sorrow but then again I guess some could see it as overlooking more important issues in terms of religion. I think the most amazing thing about the series so far is how terrific the performances have been in each of them. That holds true here as Olbrycheski really does a marvelous job in his role and the same is true for Pakulnis. Both of them work extremely well together and they really do come off as former lovers.

I think this one will be the most underrated of the Dekalog series

[zetes · 10/10 · 10 May 2000]

Probably like the majority of people who will read this comment, I had been waiting years for the Decalogue to be released on video. I had seen and loved The Double Life of Veronique and the Three Colors Trilogy, and this was the next step that I thought I would never be able to take. But then they actually released it on DVD and I was ecstatic! I have been watching them one at a time every once and a while since I got the set last week. At this point, I have seen the first three. I would say that #1 is the best, and one of the best films I've ever seen. I couldn't imagine a better 53 minutes of film ever being made. But I found #3 to be very close.

Like the first two, Dekalog 2 thrives on its extreme subtlety. I had to watch bits and pieces of all three episodes over again to understand it entirely (although I doubt I understand them entirely; I can tell that these will be films that I will watch many times in my life. A good thing, too, since they're only an hour long each!). And like the first two, #3 contained three lead performances that were no less than perfect (my God, each actor of the first three Dekalogs is so perfect!). Even the few bit parts in this episode (and the other episodes) were absolutely perfect. Watch the security guard at the station near the end of this episode. She comes roaring in on a skateboard and delivers the most perfect 1 minute performance I've ever seen in a film.

To recount the story would ruin it. (By the way, I'd like to make a small complaint about the descriptions of the episodes on the boxes. They tell you the entire plot of each episode! If you have not bought it yet, when you do (and you really should) don't read these descriptions. Just make sure you read the commandments each episode signifies). What I would like to say, though, is that I think this one will be a very underrated episode when more people have seen these films. I have read every review I could find for them, and none mention #3 any more than in passing. I think if you pay very close attention, maybe watch it a couple of times, you'll see that this one can be ranked among the best films ever made, too.

'Dekalog': Part 3- Time designations and the sanctity of time

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 11 February 2017]

'Dekalog' is a towering achievement and a televisual masterpiece that puts many feature films to shame, also pulling off a concept of great ambition brilliantly. Although a big admirer of Krzysztof Kieślowski (a gifted director taken from us too early), and who has yet to be disappointed by him, to me 'Dekalog' and 'Three Colours: Red' sees him at his best.

Episode 1 is to me some of the most thought-provoking and poignant pieces of television ever produced, and while Episode 2 dragged in places it was still wonderful and just as thoughtful, intelligent and emotional. Despite indicating in my review for the whole of 'Dekalog' that Episode 3 was a lesser episode (which for 'Dekalog' is not a bad thing, the lesser episodes still had many great merits which was testament to 'Dekalog's' quality and how brilliant the best episodes are), on reflection while not one of the best episodes that may be slightly unfair and compared to the other episodes it's pretty underrated. It may not be quite as memorable as the previous two stories, but has so many great things still.

As to be expected from Kieslowski, it is both beautiful and haunting to look at, with photography that's startling in its beauty and atmosphere. There are some very memorable images that add so much to the atmosphere and emotion of the story. The direction is quietly unobtrusive, intelligently paced and never too heavy, and the music is suitably intricate.

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 story is thought-provoking, intelligently executed and moving, complete with some welcome subtle black humour, executing well the theme of the respective commandment and showcases the negative effects the holiday season can have one those who are lonely equally well. Despite being based around one of the ten commandments, don't let that put you off, resemblance to religion is relatively scant.

As anticipated, the acting is another big strength, one cannot help being impressed with the complexity and nuance of the performances here. Daniel Olbrychski particularly excels.

Overall, another great episode and underrated. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Polish capital Warsaw during Christmas as shown by Kieslowski and Polish actor Daniel Olbrychski.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 10/10 · 20 August 2008]

On umpteen occasions,Science has proved beyond doubt that loneliness is not only a psychological malady but also a perilous social ill. Loneliness of common people in a big city is aptly tackled by Polish cinéaste Kryzsztof Kieslowski.He conveys that during festive times people from all walks of life invariably need company as there is not much joy left in life if some people are forced to celebrate holy festival of Christmas alone at home.In "Dekalog,Trzy",Kieslowski has presented one of the most appropriate issues which has fatal consequences on family life.It is about infidelity.One can have a good look at Polish capital Warsaw at night during Christmas as a Taxi driver named Janusz decides to spend an eventful night with his former mistress Ewa.In this film Kieslowski launches a stern assault on government establishments of the erstwhile communist state of Poland. We are shown how cruelty of a government run institution disturbs ordinary citizens.Warsaw police is mocked too as it promptly comes looking for a stolen taxi without verifying whether the case is genuine or not.The film ends on a positive note when our protagonist decides to reform himself by being faithful to his wife.This brings a highly unusual Christmas night to a positive end.

Wild Ride

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 11 June 2021]

A taxi driver come home on Christmas Eve and enjoys a traditional evening with his family. But he has some darkness in his past in a woman whom he went to, despite being married. Apparently, all is forgiven, but Ewa, this woman, decides to manipulate him and keep him away from his family all night. She lies continuously and leads him on a wild goose chase. It's a dark tale of sadness and betrayal and ultimately forgiveness. Well acted with the darkness that this series puts forth for us.

Hell of a Christmas Eve

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 13 October 2023]

On Christmas Eve a family man is called out to meet someone from his past.

Dekalog: three is another very strong piece of filmmaking that combines impressive visuals with strong character drama. Many scenes have an uncomfortable feel that anyone who has experienced a situation like it can relate too.

The early moment where a character from the first chapter appears is somewhat jarring and sets the scene for the family and relationship issues to come. This is followed by interactions between Janusz and other characters that for me generates a sense of dread.

Ewa, who is brilliantly played by Maria Pakulnis, is central to the story and has an unpredictable edginess and presence when on camera. There is little about the plot I can say without spoiling.

As with the first two chapters, the camerawork and editing is incredibly good. It is another example of how impactful basic filmmaking techniques can be and how much can be done without a big budget. My favourite camera shot is a perfectly timed zoom through a window that focuses on a character getting into their car.

It is an 8.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

the atmosphere

[Kirpianuscus · 3 November 2018]

Old love story. The Christmas Eve. And a long talk . A pretext and the need of security. And Daniel Olbrychski as victim of the doubts and desire of the women of his life. Like each episode, not exactly adaptation of command. But picture of a state of soul . So, the atmosphere is the axis of a story about looking for the past memories , using a simple pretext. The need of the other is the basic start point. The target - the family against all. The art of Kieslowski remains extraordinary for the exploration, in precise manner, of the nuances.

Emotionally, psychologically, spiritually satisfying piece of filmmaking.

[wotamovie1 · 20 January 2002]

Seven years ago, Kieslowski's "Red" played in the local art theater in the dead of winter. I had wanted to watch it for some time. However, I was such a busy man at the time (trying to survive through med school) and plus the roads were in terrible condition for driving due to the snow. So I reluctantly took a pass on it and caught it on video a few months afterwards. Quite simply, it was one of the most jaw-droppingly extraordinary experience I had watching a movie. I still haven't quite recovered from it. On retrospect, it was one of the three best movies I had seen out of the 1990's, and I certainly have seen a lot of good ones. And thus my lifelong regret of not catching it on the big screen. I knew about "Decalogue" shortly thereafter but being a made for Polish TV movie that came out in the 1980's, I knew I didn't have a prayer in being able to watch this in my lifetime let alone catch it in the big screen.

And now the redemption. There must be a God who felt badly about my missed opportunity the first time around. "Decalogue Part 3" sneaked into the local art theater today and I dropped everything to go watch it. Knowing the essence of Kieslowski and being his fan certainly helps in viewing this work. While I'm not a fan of all of his works ("Blue" and "White" left me wanting something more and this is where "Red" did its part), when the man was on his game, he simply had no comparable peer in his field. "Decalogue Part 3" lasts about 1 hour but it conveyed to me a lifetime of sorrow, pain, missed opportunity, forgiveness, regret... The Polish scenery also perfectly captured this mood as well. I may just have to visit Poland one of these days to just take it all in. Also, I guess the film conveys man's need for religion and that probably is the basis for the whole Decalogue series, each one focussing on God's particular commandment. Wow! As big a reaction I had for "Red" only this time it was in a movie theater and not in my small apartment room. The scenes with the protagonists and the shaver was particularly heartbreaking, the one with the Christmas carol singers gave me a warm feeling. This movie replaced the documentary "Streetwise" as my favorite film of the 1980's. If you ever get a chance to see this, especially in the big screen, don't even hesitate. You may regret it for the rest of your life.

Taxi Driver

[tedg · 25 May 2005]

What we have is a collaboration between two people. They are lovers in a way, struggling to create something special where otherwise they would be engaged in more normal things. Those more normal things involve travelling wellworn byways.

But this union requires a certain amount of deceit, uncomfortable deceit.

Such is the story here and the also the story of the creators of the story.

Kieslowski usually does a more delicate weaving of the two than is here. This is still excellent storytelling — paced disclosures are the order of the thing. But it is lesser Kieslowski and I actually ask my friends to put this toward the bottom of their decalogue list.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

Wild Goose Chase

[simuland · 29 December 2000]

"Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy."

On Christmas eve a taxi driver is compelled by his former mistress to leave home and family to search for her husband. The quest is Kafkaesque, gloomy and bleak, leading to the fringes of the city, parts of society outside all holiday's. We are supposed to glimpse the hunger within us all, here the loneliness of women, including at the last moment, to our surprise, the man's own wife. The conflict between the man and the mistress is often notched up just for dramatic effect; there seems no point to a police chase other than for the excitement of the chase. A naked man repeatedly walks through dragging a Christmas tree, lamenting "Where is my home?" (an example of spurious symbolism). The search itself turns out to be spurious, an allegory. Moral: honor god, his Sabbath, by succoring your fellow mortals. There is no other relief.

Dekalog 3

[chaos-rampant · 12 March 2016]

This is more of a typical entry in the Dekalog template; we enter someone's life on a night, it's Christmas Eve, so when life is celebrated for its warm intimacy, but instead of the warmth of a house, we spend it outside in cold empty streets, chasing after phantoms from the past.

We begin with certainties of drama and have them broken down by the end. The man hasn't existed in her life for years. She has suffered the loneliness of both their absence and was on the brink that night, possibly brought back because he turned on the doorstep and went out in search of him. He could have brushed her off and stayed home with his family.

The most poignant shots are in the beginning and end. The beginning in the church where he turns around to see her, summoning or being summoned to look - Malick was in his European exile at the time, this is now his own vocabulary of ethereal swirl.

The ending is when he returns the morning after and tenderly finds his own wife asleep. Having experienced the brokenness of life on the long night, that you might help or not, here is the center of a life that lets you cultivate love.

Sabbath keeping? Not adultery?

[NorthofFargo · 26 May 2006]

In the DVD I received there was a brief segment with Roger Ebert expounding on this series. He notes that the episodes and the commandments do not necessarily match up one to one. Episode Three may not necessarily be about the Third Commandment. Moreover, different faith traditions do not always have the commandments in the same order.

Once disabused of this notion (assuming it is correct) do we then not watch the episodes differently and interpret them a bit more freely?

Maybe this is all explained in a neat lucid paragraph in the boxed set - which I ain't got.

Nonetheless .....