Krzysztof Kieślowski was a legend of the Polish cinema (and just cinema in general) who unfortunately died far too young at the age of 54 in 1996, not long after completing his Three Colors Trilogy with Red. While the Three Colors Trilogy has rightfully been elevated into the pantheon of modern cinema with restorations available through the Criterion Collection, Kieślowski’s most stunning achievement hasn’t exactly been readily available for American cinephiles. That is, until now.
As they’ve done time and time again, the lovers and protectors of cinema over at Janus Films have undertaken a restoration of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog. I’ve never seen Kieślowski’s ten-part epic that was originally produced for Polish television, but the series of films have a sterling reputation among lovers of film from all corners. Before Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog becomes part of the Criterion Collection with a sterling new Blu-ray set available on September 27th, the series of films will be playing at art houses across the country, giving the most ardent film fans a rare chance to see this expansive series on the big screen. In conjunction with its release, Janus Films have just unveiled a new trailer for Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog.
Check out the trailer below for Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog and be sure to see if these movies are coming to your local arthouse.
DEKALOG TRAILER from Janus Films on Vimeo.
Play dates and locations for Dekalog:
9/1/2016 Cleveland, OH Cleveland Cinematheque
9/2/2016 NYC IFC Center
9/2/2016 Montreal, QC Cinema du Parc
9/5/2016 Vancouver, BC Pacific Cinematheque
9/9/2016 San Francisco, CA Alamo Drafthouse New Mission
9/9/2016 San Rafael, CA Smith Rafael Film Center
9/16/2016 Coral Gables, FL Coral Gables Art Cinema
9/17/2016 Los Angeles, CA Cinefamily
9/29/2016 Rochester, NY George Eastman House
9/23/2016 Pleasantville, NY Jacob Burns Film Center
9/22/2016 Austin, TX Austin Film Society
10/14/2016 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City Museum of Art
The official synopsis for Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog:
Originally made for Polish television, Dekalog focuses on the residents of a housing complex in late-Communist Poland, whose lives become subtly intertwined as they face emotional dilemmas that are at once deeply personal and universally human. The series’ ten hour-long films draw from the Ten Commandments for thematic inspiration and an overarching structure, and grapple deftly with complex moral and existential questions concerning life, death, love, hate, truth, and the passage of time. Shot by nine different cinematographers, written alongside longtime collaborator Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with stirring music by Zbigniew Preisner and compelling performances from established and unknown actors alike, Dekalog arrestingly explores the unknowable forces that shape our lives.
