A Short Film About Killing

1988 1h 25m PL

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 417

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jacek climbs into the taxi driven by Waldemar, tells him to drive to a remote location, then brutally strangles him, seemingly without motive.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Mirosław Baka
Jacek Łazar
Krzysztof Globisz
Piotr Balicki
Jan Tesarz
Waldemar Rekowski
Zbigniew Zapasiewicz
Committee Chairman
Barbara Dziekan
Cashier
Aleksander Bednarz
The Executioner
Jerzy Zass
Police Commander
Zdzisław Tobiasz
Judge

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Krzysztof Kieślowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieślowski, Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Languages: Polish
Countries: Poland

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, shot by Sławomir Idziak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Zbigniew Preisner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ewa Smal shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Mirosław Baka and Krzysztof Globisz and Jan Tesarz carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0095468 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Krzysztof Kieślowski directs. Sławomir Idziak behind the camera. Zbigniew Preisner scores. Ewa Smal cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Poland. Dialogue in Polish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, shot by Sławomir Idziak. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Zbigniew Preisner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Ewa Smal shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Mirosław Baka and Krzysztof Globisz and Jan Tesarz carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0095468 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.