'Dekalog' is a towering achievement and a televisual masterpiece that puts many feature films to shame. 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 of 'Dekalog' is one of its best episodes, and not only is it of the most thought-provoking and poignant pieces of television (or any kind of visual medium) there is but it's also one of the best first episodes personally seen for any television series. Would even go as far to say that it moved and interested me more than most thought-provoking and emotional feature films double its length.
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. All of the 'Dekalog' series is visually stunning, and Episode 1 is one of the best-looking, and here especially in the final scene the photography actually enhances the emotional wallop to a scene that is heart-breaking already. The direction is intelligent and unobtrusive, while the music is hauntingly intricate.
The story is deliberately paced but never dull, the whole idolisation of science concept is explored with great intelligence while the final 10 minutes affected me (and very deeply) more than any other film or anything television-related in a while, much of it without dialogue and more through moods and expressions. 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. Despite being based around one of the ten commandments, don't let that put you off, resemblance to religion is relatively scant.
Couldn't have asked for better performances, Henryk Baranowski, Wojciech Klata and Maja Komorowska give remarkably complex and nuanced portrayals. Baranowski is especially outstanding, especially in the scenes detailing the aftermath of the tragedy, but Klata shows amazing maturity and naturalness for his age.
Overall, simply brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox