Decalogue VI

Decalogue VI
DVD poster
Directed by	Krzysztof Kieślowski
Produced by	Ryszard Chutkovski
Written by	Krzysztof Kieślowski Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Starring	Olaf Lubaszenko Grażyna Szapołowska
Music by	Zbigniew Preisner
Cinematography	Witold Adamek
Editing by	Ewa Smal
Distributed by	Polish Television
Release date(s)	1988
Running time	58 min.
Country	Poland
Language	Polish
Budget	$10.000

The Decalogue - VI (Polish: Dekalog, sześć) is a sixth part of the television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the sixth imperative of the Ten Commandments: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

A naive young man, Tomek (Olaf Lubaszenko), spies on a woman, Magda (Grażyna Szapołowska), through her window and falls in love with her. An extended 86-minute feature version is Krótki film o miłości (A Short Film About Love).^[1]

Plot

Magda (Grażyna Szapołowska) and Tomek (Olaf Lubaszenko).

Tomek (Olaf Lubaszenko) is a nineteen-year-old orphan, living with the mother of a friend and working at the local post office. He has been observing an attractive woman in her thirties, Magda (Grażyna Szapołowska), and fallen in love with her. He sends false notices from the post office to her, calling her to pick up money (which does not exist) just to see her. In the evenings, he spies on Magda, who lives on the other side of the street, using a telescope that he stole and calls her frequently. Magda changes boyfriends quite often and Tomek manages to ruin her dates by calling the gas service to check a leak.

Tomek wants to see Magda anyway so he takes an extra job delivering milk in the mornings, so that he can see her more often. Magda goes to the post office to collect a new note that Tomek sent her and is accused by the office manager of trying to rob the office by presenting false notes. Magda storms out of the post office; Tomek follows her and confesses to his peeping. She initially does not believe him, but when he says that she was weeping last night she becomes angry, because it was true.

That night Magda spots Tomek peeping again and makes signs that he should call her. He does so and she tells him to watch closely. She receives her current lover and, just as they are about to begin having sex, she stops and tells him of the peeping going on. He becomes angry and goes to Tomek's building and demands to speak with him; he comes out and there is a fight which is lost by Tomek.

The next day Magda opens the door as Tomek is delivering milk; he declares his love to her. After inquiring as to what he wants with her, which he cannot answer, she accepts a date to have ice cream. After the ice cream she engages in a little game: If they reach the bus home he shall go to her apartment, if not, he shall go home. Back at her apartment, she takes his hands and places them on her barely naked body. He is very exited and finishes even before he can actually touch anything other than her thighs. After this, she says that that is love and nothing more; if he wants to clean up there are towels in the bathroom. Tomek is shattered and storms out of her place; he tries to commit suicide. He is taken to the hospital and Magda does not see him for a long time and becomes worried.

She recognizes that now she is obsessed with him and tries to do everything to see him, talk to him, and explain everything. Later on, Tomek is back from the hospital, working again at the post office. Magda comes to see him, and Tomek says "I am no longer spying on you, madam."

^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Cast

• Grażyna Szapołowska - Magda
• Olaf Lubaszenko - Tomek
• Stefania Iwińska - Godmother
• Artur Barciś - young man
• Stanisław Gawlik - postman
• Piotr Machalica - Roman
• Rafal Imbro - bearded man
• Jan Piechociński - blond man
• Malgorzata Rozniatowska, M. Chojnacka, T. Gradowski, K. Koperski, J. Michalewska, E Zilkowska (in other roles)

Cast notes

• From actors who appeared in other episodes, we can briefly see the Piotr Machalica, who played the role of Roman in Decalogue IX.
• Artur Barciś plays again one of his mysterious cameo roles as young man.

References

1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094988/ Episode overview on www.imdb.com
2. ^ Film review on www.film.u.net.com
3. ^ Synopsis on www.facets.org
4. ^ http://filmsufi.blogspot.com/2009/04/dekalog-6-thou-shalt-not-commit.html
5. ^ Synopsis and overview on www.rottentomatoes.com