Decalogue VIII

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

1989 0h 55m PL

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 140

DramaTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Zofia, a professor of ethics, is visited by Elżbieta, an American researching the fate of Jews who survived World War II. A daytime classroom conversation turns into a night of confrontation, and Zofia is forced to answer for a decision she made decades ago that directly affected the course of Elżbieta’s life.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

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Cast

Maria Kościałkowska
Zofia
Teresa Marczewska
Elżbieta Loranc
Artur Barciś
Student
Tadeusz Łomnicki
Tailor
Marian Opania
University Dean
Bronisław Pawlik
Philatelist
Wojciech Asiński
Student
Marek Kępiński
Flat Resident

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Krzysztof Kieślowski
Writers: Krzysztof Piesiewicz, Krzysztof Kieślowski
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 55-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 Andrzej J. Jaroszewicz. 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

Maria Kościałkowska and Teresa Marczewska and Artur Barciś carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Krzysztof Kieślowski directs. Andrzej J. Jaroszewicz 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 55-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 Andrzej J. Jaroszewicz. 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.
8Maria Kościałkowska and Teresa Marczewska and Artur Barciś carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.".
10IMDB entry: tt0094990 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Andrzej J. Jaroszewicz
Original score: Zbigniew Preisner
Editing: Ewa Smal
Production design: Halina Dobrowolska
Costume design: Małgorzata Obłoza
Makeup / hair: Jolanta Pruszynska
Runtime: 55 min · 0h 55m
Status: Released
Original language: PL
IMDB: Decalogue VIII (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.