Decalogue III

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

1989 0h 56m PL

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 164

DramaTV MovieRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

It’s Christmas Eve, and Ewa has plotted to pass the hours until morning with her former lover Janusz, a family man, by making him believe her husband has gone missing. During this night of recklessness and lies, the pair grapple with choices made when their affair was discovered three years ago, and with the value of their present lives.

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

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Cast

Daniel Olbrychski
Janusz
Maria Pakulnis
Ewa
Joanna Szczepkowska
Janusz's Wife
Artur Barciś
Tram Driver
Krystyna Drochocka
Aunt
Krzysztof Kumor
Gynecologist
Dorota Stalińska
PKP Employee Riding a Skateboard
Zygmunt Fok

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Krzysztof Kieślowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieślowski, Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Languages: Polish
Countries: Germany, 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 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 56-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Germany, Poland.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Part of the "The Decalogue" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

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#06

7 / 8

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#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Daniel Olbrychski and Maria Pakulnis and Joanna Szczepkowska carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

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

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 56-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
237 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: Germany, Poland.
4Part of the "The Decalogue" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, shot by Piotr Sobociński. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Zbigniew Preisner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Ewa Smal shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Daniel Olbrychski and Maria Pakulnis and Joanna Szczepkowska carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.".
10IMDB entry: tt0094985 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Piotr Sobociński
Original score: Zbigniew Preisner
Editing: Ewa Smal
Production design: Halina Dobrowolska
Costume design: Hanna Ćwikło
Makeup / hair: Dorota Seweryńska
Runtime: 56 min · 0h 56m
Status: Released
Original language: PL
IMDB: Decalogue III (1989)

Part of

The Decalogue

The Decalogue Collection is a profound and thought-provoking anthology of ten one-hour films, each inspired by one of the Ten Commandments. Created by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski, this cinematic masterpiece explores complex moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the residents of a housing complex in late 20th-century Poland. The series originally aired on Polish television in 1989 and has since been recognized as one of the greatest achievements in world cinema. Each film in the collection stands on its own as a powerful exploration of human nature and the struggles that arise when faced with challenging life choices. The Decalogue Collection is an essential viewing experience for anyone interested in understanding the depths of human experience, as it delves into themes such as love, faith, guilt, and redemption.