Decalogue VII

Decalogue VII
DVD poster
Directed by	Krzysztof Kieślowski
Produced by	Ryszard Chutkovski
Written by	Krzysztof Kieślowski Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Starring	Anna Polony Maja Barelkowska Katarzyna Piwowarczyk
Music by	Zbigniew Preisner
Cinematography	Dariusz Kuc
Editing by	Ewa Smal
Distributed by	Polish Television
Release date(s)	1988
Running time	55 min.
Country	Poland
Language	Polish
Budget	$10.000

The Decalogue - VII (Polish: Dekalog, siedem) is a seventh part of the television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the seventh imperative of the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not steal. A young woman (Maja Barelkowska) abducts her own child, who has been raised by her parents as her sister. .^[1]

Plot

Majka (Maja Barelkowska), abducting Ania (Katarzyna Piwowarczyk).

Prior to the events of the film: Ewa is mother to Majka but became unable to have any more children, somewhere along the line she became head mistress in the school where she hired a literature professor, Wojtek, who met and fell in love with then 16 year old Majka; she got pregnant and had Ania, due to the scandal Majka was forced to pretend that Ania is legally her little sister and Wojtek avoided charges for seducing a minor by simply walking away.

The film: Twenty-two-year-old Majka (Maja Barelkowska) still lives with her parents. Six-year-old Ania (Katarzyna Piwowarczyk) has recurrent nightmares and can only be consoled by Ewa (Anna Polony). Majka's father, Stefan (Wladyslaw Kowalski), spends his time fixing an organ in their apartment. Ewa is just as cruel to Majka as she is affectionate to Ania.

Majka quits her last term at the university and wants to flee to Canada with Ania but she needs her mother's signature to obtain Ania's passport.

During a children's show at school theatre Ewa takes Ania there to watch the performance. Majka manages to get there also and beckons Ania away. Ewa is shocked by the disappearance of Ania and nearly falls down a set of stairs. Ania believes that this is a game with her sister. Majka tells her the truth, she is her mother and Ewa is her grandmother, Ania seems to understand and then asks who is her father.

Majka goes to Wojtek's, who now earns a living by making Teddy bears. They meet after six years and Wojtek is surprised and uncomfortable to see his daughter. Stefan calls Wojtek but he says that he has not seen Majka in six years. Ewa begs Stefan to wake up his former political acquaintances to help them find Ania, since she cannot let her go. Ania has fallen asleep, Majka and Wojtek discuss about their past; while tucking her in, Ania grabs Wojtek's finger and he begins to warm up to her. Ewa and Stefan finally get a call from Majka who wants now to set her own conditions regarding Ania, namely that she be recognized as her mother and that they are left alone. In the meantime Ania has woken up and engages in conversation with Wojtek who now is very affectionate to her. Majka has come back and asks Ania to address her as her mother but she can only call her Majka.

Ania falls sleep again. Wojtek tells Majka to consider going back to Warsaw, since the trauma to Ania after the entire ordeal could be too much for her. Majka agrees and he promises to get a friend who has a van, to take them back. When Wojtek returns with his friend, Majka and Ania are gone. Majka calls again and demands that Ewa agree to all her previous demands and that she executes the necessary permits to get Ania's passport and visa into Canada. Ewa tries to negotiate but Majka is relentless, either she gets her demands or she does not see Ania ever again, after a moment of silence Majka hungs up the phone just as Ewa is about to agree to her terms. The phone rings again, it is Wojtek, he admits to his earlier lie and offers his help locating Majka.

Majka and Ania head to the train station. They want to buy a ticket anywhere, but the next train will not arrive for two hours, since it is Sunday. The woman at the ticket office offers the pair to stay until the next train arrives (understanding that Majka is fleeing from something, perhaps an abusive husband). Ewa and Stefan arrive at the train station and ask the woman at the ticket office about Majka and Ania. The woman tells them that they left two hours ago but Ania unwittingly reveals their location when hearing her (grand)mother's voice. The train arrives, Majka cannot confront her mother and boards the train alone, Ania runs after her understanding that something irreparable has just happened.

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

Cast

Majka's parents Ewa (Anna Polony) and Stefan (Wladyslaw Kowalski) with Majka's daughter, Ania (Katarzyna Piwowarczyk

• Anna Polony - Ewa
• Maja Barelkowska - Majka
• Wladyslaw Kowalski - Stefan
• Boguslaw Linda - Wojtek
• Bozena Dykiel - ticket woman
• Katarzyna Piwowarczyk - Ania
• Dariusz Jablonski - friend of Wojtek
• Artur Barciś - man on the railway station

References

1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094989/ Episode overview
2. ^ http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Dekalog_7.html Episode review
3. ^ http://www.facets.org/decalogue/synopsis.html Episode synopsis
4. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/decalogue_vol_4_parts_vii_and_viii/# Episode Synopsis and critical review