Decalogue, two

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Movie
German title Decalogue, two
Original title Decalogue, dwa
Country of production Poland
original language Polish
Publishing year 1988
length 57 minutes
Rod
Director Krzysztof Kieślowski
script Krzysztof Kieślowski,
Krzysztof Piesiewicz
production Ryszard Chutkowski
music Zbigniew Preisner
camera Wiesław Zdort ,
Edward Kłosiński
cut Ewa Smal
occupation
chronology

←  Predecessor
Decalogue, One

Successor  →
Decalogue, Three

Decalogue, Two is a 1988 Polish TV movie . As the second part of the Decalogue series by director Krzysztof Kieślowski , the film deals with the second commandment You should not abuse the name of the Lord your God .

content

A 65-year-old senior doctor works in the city hospital and lives alone in his apartment. He only shares this homely atmosphere with his housekeeper Basia. The conversations between these two people do not just refer to the pragmatic arrangements regarding housekeeping. Because there are those quiet moments over coffee when the doctor talks about how he lost his two children and his wife in the war.

The 30-year-old Dorota lives in the same rental block. Her husband Andrzej suffers from cancer and is on the head doctor's ward. She goes to the doctor and wants to know from him whether Andrzej will live or die. Dorota is expecting a child from another man, but she also loves Andrzej. She will only choose the child she longs for if her husband dies. Therefore, she asks the doctor to give a definitive judgment on Andrzej's life, which he refuses, however, for medical and ethical reasons.

Shortly afterwards the doctor receives a new examination result from Andrzej, according to which his chances of recovery are dwindling. When Dorota informed the doctor about the planned abortion at a new meeting and at the same time accused him of being responsible for her decision against the child by refusing a prognosis, he stopped her from the operation. He swears that Andrzej has no chance of survival and will die.

The last scene of the plot shows Andrzej still weak but recovering in the doctor's room. He thanks him for the treatment and describes how the experience of living between life and death has changed his view of things. Ultimately, he happily tells that his wife is pregnant. Then he asks the doctor: "Do you know what it means to have a child?" The doctor replies: "Yes, I know."

criticism

“The story of a problematic moral decision seems constructed and metaphorically exaggerated; thanks to the intensity of the actors, the conflict appears credible and deeply touching. "

- film service

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