A Short Film About Killing

The last major Kieslowski film I still had to watch. His films are very hit-and-miss for me, usually depending on how much effort he put into the visuals. A Short Film About Killing is one of the better ones, though it goes slightly off the rails towards the finale. It's a shame, as the first half was pretty nice.

The film brings three people together. Waldemar is a middle-aged taxi driver whose primary care is making a buck, Piotr is a young lawyer who finally passed the bar exam and Jacek a wanderer who just arrived in Warsaw and loves to stir up trouble. A fateful meeting between Waldemar and Jacek will determine the trio's future.

The strong, sepia-colored images are a sight to behold, and the main attraction of the film. Use of color and lighting are pretty great, though as the film shifts to a more philosophical approach, the focus on the visuals lessens. Those who care for that sort of thing won't mind, but it left me disappointed in the second half.