What Makes This Movie Great? -- Episode 1, "Decalogue 1"

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  • Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
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    Here's why "Decalogue 1" is a great movie. It's the first film in the ten-film series "The Decalogue." This one is about the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
    This video is for anybody. I analyze the key ideas and themes of the movie, presenting you with important shots from it.
    For more movie criticism, please SUBSCRIBE to my UA-cam channel. See my website, joshmatthews.org.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 61

  • @georgerichardson7728
    @georgerichardson7728 4 роки тому +36

    Thank you, it is a very moving and thoughtful film , few people will ever slow down enough to appreciate it, Kieslowski was a master of his craft and a highly intelligent man.

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  4 роки тому +5

      amen.

    • @martasoltys9091
      @martasoltys9091 6 місяців тому +2

      Thanks for saying all this. I watched these for the first time as a young girl at uni, then about a decade or so later, and now, another decade later. It's so interesting to see how differently I perceive them. At first I was in awe, then I related to almost all of them, and now I find myself annoyed with some of the characters for not having enough compassion (I know, I'm being judgmental). Anyway, just interesting to see how differently one person can watch these at different points in life.

    • @georgerichardson7728
      @georgerichardson7728 6 місяців тому

      Thank you Marta, I also feel the same about the movie. "La Dolce Vita", I've watched it at various stages of my life and my views on Marcello, the main character changed as I aged, I at first envied him , then as I got older I pitied him, now at my stage in life, i totally relate to him ! @@martasoltys9091

  • @Tanirogalarn
    @Tanirogalarn 3 роки тому +24

    It's precisely because that film is Polish and over thirty years old that it's worth watching: it offers a very interesting perspective on the last years of communism in Poland and how people tried to live with it.

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому +2

      exactly

    • @martasoltys9091
      @martasoltys9091 6 місяців тому

      It's funny b/c I left Poland around this time as a girl and seeing Poland of that time always brings so much tenderness to my heart.

  • @achasingafterthewind
    @achasingafterthewind 3 роки тому +16

    This is such a great film, second only in the series--or perhaps equal--to "Dekalog Six." It has by far the most beautiful and emotionally gripping moments in the entire series: the crowd genuflecting by the frozen lake; the candle dripping down the painting; and the scene with the holy water. I was amazed by this film and looked forward eagerly to the rest of the series. I was a bit disappointed by the second and third ones (especially after seeing the first film), but after that, almost every one was something special.
    This reminded me a lot of my favorite Flannery O'Connor short story, "The Lame Shall Enter First." Both feature a humanist father and a son who begins wondering about spiritual issues, and, although indirectly, the fathers' outlooks on life lead to tragedy. In O'Connor's stories, she writes about characters who in some way worship a perspective of themselves, whether it's their intellect or their moral excellence. Stuck in their self-idolatry, they are incapable of spiritual growth, and it is only through the--sometimes violent--intercession of God that they are humbled and shaken out of their blindness. While Krzysztof is far from most of O'Connor's humorously obtuse characters, there are a few moments in this film that make me think this could be that kind of story--a horrible suffering, yes, but one that could in some way be ingredient in the grace of God. I admire how much these films reverence the Bible as their source inspiration, but take those ideas further to tell complex, genuinely human stories that aren't simply dogmatic, but move the viewer to contemplate the intersection of their own beliefs and the lives of other people.

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому +1

      great comment. one overlap is that Kielowski and O'Connor understand icons as true signs of a greater reality. Kieslowski puns on "computer icon," which is an idol or a signpost. That leads the main character to the Mary icon in the church.
      Don't sleep on Decalogue 2 and 3. 2 is remarkably intricate, and 3 is an "f-- you." to Freud.

    • @meusisto
      @meusisto 6 місяців тому

      @@LearningaboutMovies Will you comment on the other episodes?

  • @mimicrybypravesh
    @mimicrybypravesh 4 роки тому +10

    I particularly love the Sixth one the most, probably called "Short Film about Love"

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  4 роки тому +8

      Yes, it is an amazing film. I've got a video on it, too. Probably should analyze it shot-by-shot at some point. Kieslowski outdoes Hitchcock in that one, perhaps.

    • @martasoltys9091
      @martasoltys9091 4 роки тому +1

      @@LearningaboutMovies yes, please do a deep analysis. This is great.

  • @justin_sanchez_
    @justin_sanchez_ 2 роки тому

    This is great! Excited to check out your other videos.

  • @brutusalwaysminded
    @brutusalwaysminded 3 роки тому +2

    Nice synopsis/review. And kudos for showcasing the Riverside Shakespeare. 😁👍

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому +1

      thank you for complimenting this now older, primitive-looking video. The books behind me are coincedental, but I suppose foundational to whatever is produced here.

  • @sierrabierk9478
    @sierrabierk9478 2 роки тому

    Thanks for uploading this series, just watched Dekalog without English subtitles. Enjoyed the picture but had no idea what the storyline was until now

  • @boxer_puncher
    @boxer_puncher 2 місяці тому

    Kieslowski is not my thing actually but he's smooth as velvet.

  • @byancaalves4494
    @byancaalves4494 4 роки тому +6

    I just watched the short about 4 hours ago and I'm in such a meditative space that made me search more about this episode, it's a really hard one to digest, and even though the themes revolves around god/science/faith and so on, we still get stuck on the most mudane feelings, love.
    Great review very eye opening and well put.

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  4 роки тому +3

      thank you.

    • @veerkumar2112
      @veerkumar2112 4 роки тому +1

      Where did you find it...???

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  4 роки тому

      I have a Bluray set. That's the only way to find it now, legally. If you have access to a library nearby, they should have a copy, or could get you a copy.

    • @rebornrovnost
      @rebornrovnost 4 місяці тому +1

      As a Catholic, I'd say that love is the holiest of feelings.
      Our studies on god/science/faith are, in fact, the most mundane subjects.

  • @pejimoradi5665
    @pejimoradi5665 3 роки тому +3

    Thank you ♥️

  • @vulgarlang
    @vulgarlang 2 роки тому +1

    In the 80s and 90s, green had such an obvious connection to computers. I wonder if the green-tinge of the Matrix even makes sense to anyone under the age of 18 anymore?

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  2 роки тому

      I vividly remember DOS screens back in the day, and you are right: the kids have never seen that!

  • @rohithchandran7208
    @rohithchandran7208 3 місяці тому

    Neatly explained. Thanks for this!

  • @jojojoseff
    @jojojoseff 3 роки тому +4

    But I can't understand, who is the guy in the opening scene? He is there in some other scenes also? The God? I can't find a good explanation about him.

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому +10

      he's been viewed as an angel, Jesus or an observer. I think he's also possibly just a representative Polish everyman. Or a standin for the director Kieslowski himself. He appears in 7-8 of the 10 decalogue films, and when he does, he usually signifies something ominous. At the very least, he helps unify the decalogue visually, and it gives the films an extra level of mystery, possibly hinting at but not necessarily affirming the existence of the supernatural.

  • @cherin5892
    @cherin5892 Місяць тому

    I never saw the computer as a G-D. I saw the wrestle with a belief in G-D. Saying I am ready is different them saying "I am" from the bible at burning bush

  • @aarond9563
    @aarond9563 3 роки тому +1

    Is "I am who I am" closely related to "I am ready"? I mean in words maybe, but not in meaning, right?

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому +2

      the computer screen functions as an icon for the father. it has a lot of possibilities -- the son speaking to him, God speaking, himself speaking to himself. But we know that it leads him to the church, at the end of the film.

  • @markkodama6910
    @markkodama6910 Місяць тому

    great movie

  • @lidijakotorcevic7746
    @lidijakotorcevic7746 Рік тому

    The way those books behined him are placed

  • @veerkumar2112
    @veerkumar2112 4 роки тому +7

    Where I could find the whole series...???

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  4 роки тому +4

      in the US, it's not on a streaming service. You would have to get the "Dekalog" from a library or buy it on Amazon/other websites. I saw the Bluray set on Amazon for $46, which is a steal, considering that you get 10 movies, and one of the greatest ever made.

    • @manish_semwal_26
      @manish_semwal_26 4 роки тому +3

      Download telegram and search for it..all episodes are there.

    • @dwbunloaf8245
      @dwbunloaf8245 4 роки тому +1

      arrow films have the whole series of ten films in one boxed set on sale atm

    • @TheBDQJP
      @TheBDQJP 2 роки тому +2

      Kieślowski's been dead for 20 years so i'm sure he won't mind if you pirate it :)

  • @KBrianO
    @KBrianO 3 роки тому +1

    This is very nice. thank you for this. Btw, Do you have a review of all the episodes from 1-10?

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому

      thank you. I did reviews of Episodes 1, 6, and 10. I think maybe 2 as well. Hopefully I"ll get to them all one day!

  • @pablo1980r
    @pablo1980r Рік тому

    Great movie.

  • @vidzupancic108
    @vidzupancic108 Рік тому +2

    The important element is also ink which spills on the father's equations paper (science being destroyed by spirituality, faith, perhaps?). I think that the movie's also about science not being everything, and that there's also a spiritual side in every one of us, whatever we may call it, be it faith or whatever.

  • @trueindian510
    @trueindian510 10 місяців тому

    Where can I watch it.

    • @drewpeacock7322
      @drewpeacock7322 7 місяців тому +1

      On UA-cam if you search up Dekalog 1 there's the movie with English subtitles

  • @joystickcasaa8148
    @joystickcasaa8148 3 роки тому

    How can I watch this movie?

    • @LearningaboutMovies
      @LearningaboutMovies  3 роки тому

      go to letterboxd.com, look up the movie, and they'll tell you where it's streaming.

    • @joystickcasaa8148
      @joystickcasaa8148 3 роки тому

      @@LearningaboutMovies it's not only leads me to a dvd set on amazon that doesn't ship to my country, so hard to find a stream that's free.

    • @nobodyknows3490
      @nobodyknows3490 3 роки тому

      @@joystickcasaa8148 TVP Vod app in Google Play.

  • @mohnishsingh9684
    @mohnishsingh9684 Рік тому

    Where to watch?

    • @drewpeacock7322
      @drewpeacock7322 7 місяців тому

      On UA-cam there's a video with English subtitles

  • @cherin5892
    @cherin5892 Місяць тому

    Son asks about life beyond. All he speaks about is memories of the ones that pass on. This piece doesn't go into detail about there is a beyond. How to even believe in a G-D who takes son away

  • @martasoltys9091
    @martasoltys9091 6 місяців тому +2

    I always say no one understands religion until they find themselves in deep suffering, when your hand is shaking just to light a candle b/c you're in a place where all of your own answers have been exhausted.

  • @cherin5892
    @cherin5892 Місяць тому

    Your analysis of this seems off. Thou shalt not have any other G-ds before me. To me this guy isn't praying to a false G-d like for example a cult leader would be. He doesn't have any faith in any G-d but he believes in Science to explain his life. Science isn't a false G-d. He can't see or measure G-d but he can measure Science or so he thought.