There are two versions of this movie - Krótki film o milosci (1995) Discussion

[–] marylee18 18 years ago

Apparently, the 56 minute version is the original which was, like all the Dekalog, made for TV. I don't know why the other release is longer -- whether the director added other material or what. I would really like to know the answer, too.

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[–] sexyabi 18 years ago

Actually, i too was confused but today i read that Dekalog 5 and 6 were the most successful and were later made into full feature lengths by Kieslowski - 5 and 6 being A Short Film About Killing, and A Short Film About Love.

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[–] marylee18 18 years ago

You are right. I just got a copy of the separate release of A Short Film About Love, and it states that the director wrote and shot a new ending. I haven't seen it yet, but that accounts for the extra 30 minutes apparently.

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[–] ah_lior 18 years ago

Well I originally watched the longer version.
I got to watch the shorter version not long ago and the main difference is indeed the ending.

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[–] David_G_Young 18 years ago

There is an extra scene in 'Krotki Film O Milosci' where Tomek asks 'Why do people cry?' It shows us a little more about the rather naive nature of his character, and, of course, the tragic dimension of the story.

Kieslowski's best, in my opinion. 'Przypadek' comes in a close second.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

Tomek asks 'Why do people cry?' It shows us a little more about the rather naive nature of his character, and, of course, the tragic dimension of the story.

I loved that scene. It shows too the tragedy of his character, a child raised in a children's home.

Keep silent unless what you are going to say is more important than silence.

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[–] guy_anisimov 17 years ago

this is really confusing!
you say that it was one of the two most successful episodes from the Dekalog and thats why it was released longer as a single movie.
from what i see the Dekalog was released after 'a short film about killing' and 'a short film about love'.
i watched it as a part of the Dekalog and didnt fall for it.
do you think watching the longer version will have a differen affect?

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[–] minalex 17 years ago

Exactly, most of the above posters are wrong. The movie was released on 1988, the TV episode came later (it was first played on 1990) and it is mostly a chopped version of the movie, plus a different ending and in some occasions scenes shot again in shorter version.
You should certainly see the film because it is the greatest thing Kieslowski ever did. The TV version misses some of the greatest dialogues and touching scenes, loses the paste and has an interesting ironic ending. The film ending (I won't reveal it) still makes me cry and contains the moral point of the film (to understand and love the other, you have to see things from his point of view).

Recently watched films:
A Short Film About Love (1988) (10/10) ~10th time
Reality Bites (1994) (6/10) 2nd time http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110950/
Nearest To Heaven (2002) (6/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290435/

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Kinematico 16 years ago

The main difference between he episode VI from Decalogue and "A Short Film About Love" is the ending.

Kieslowski first shot the ending as it is shown in the episode VI (no matters if "Dekalog" was released later), the ending of the episode is in the same tone with most if not all the episodes from Dekalog. It's free from clichés and cheap sentimentalism, that's why is so honest and "believable". There are not dream-like sequences. The ending of Episode VI is quite direct, non fancy at all therefore more credible.
The ending of "ASFAL" was modified supposedly because Grazyna Szapolowska asked Kieslowski to have a "Fairy Tale" ending. Not the realistic ending of the episode VI.

Well, whether or not miss Szapolowska gave the idea for a different and "fairy tale" ending to Kieslowski or if it was his idea, the truth is that the ending is quite diferent and feels "odd" when comparing with the rest of the works by Kieslowski characterized by his humanism and realism (perhaps the exception is "No End" where a spirit is present, and "La double vie de Véronique" to some extent).
This "dream-like" or "imaginary ending" with Magda watching thru the telescope the very moment when she spills the milk on the table and Tomek comes to comfort her it's IMO kinda "un-kieslowskian".

I think the shorter version is better rounded, better scripted and has a more realistic ending, very important if you ask me. Perhaps the episode VI ending is not as romantic or "fairy-tale-like". But Kieslowski intention wasn't to make a romantic film at all! The people wanted to see a love story in this movie, but that wasn't what Kieslowski intended.

IMO the best films by Kieslowski are:

Blind Chance
Trois Couleurs : Rouge
A Short Film About Killing
Trois Couleurs: Bleu
Camera Buff

and "Dekalog" as a whole is perhaps the masterpiece of our times, as Kubrick said.

A Short Film About Love is not bad at all, I do liked it. But IMO the "fairy-tale" ending ruined it a little bit. Anyway I do understand why so many people liked it. But do a favor to yourself and watch the episode VI and the whole Decalogue.

7/10

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[–] caponesque 16 years ago

The OP seems mildly dense.

Kieslowski made a TV SERIES called Dekalog and each episode was based on the TEN COMMANDMENTS. So 10 eps = 10 commandments.

A short film about love is an extended film version of episode 6 and a short film about killing is an extended film version of episode 5.

See it's quite simple. :-)

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] mac_alain 16 years ago

The OP seems mildly dense.

Do you get off on insulting posters from the high horse that you seem to sitting on, craponesque?

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[–] caponesque 10 years ago

No I get off insulting you because you rise to the bait you dumb mactwat. :-)

And you're complaining about throwing insults and then you throw some more? What a hypocrite!

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[–] Leszek5 15 years ago

Not so simple.
ASFAL is not simple extension of Dekalog VI. It slightly differs. Main change is ending. IMHO much more impressive and heartbreaking in ASFAL, much colder (but realistic) in D VI.

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[–] chernyshevsky 13 years ago

I just spent 40zl on the movie version. The tone is definitely different from the Dialog version. The scenes are mainly the same, but cut slightly differently. There're also additional/alternate scenes. The ending is different, but doesn't feel tacked on. Other changes make the whole thing work. If you're from the West, you'll probably like the movie version better, as it's more optimistic. The TV version is too Polish for non-Poles, I think.

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[–] Danusha_Goska 13 years ago

"The TV version is too Polish for non-Poles"

Yeah, that's what I thought about the Parthenon. Too Greek for non-Greeks.

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