Krzysztof Kieślowski (1941 – 1996)

Kieslowski's films focus on universal issues. They are experienced in a similar way by everyone no matter where they come from. Love, death, jealousy, sadness, despair, the choice between good and evil – these are all human problems, dilemmas and feelings. As a result, everyone is able to understand and identify with these films and their subject matter is universal. The universality of philosophical and ethical themes is characteristic of most of Kieslowski's films - especially the latter ones, beginning with The Decalogue. Kieślowski has said that his films are stories about people and are meant to make us better human beings. He asked us questions, often without giving any answers. He wanted us to figure them out by ourselves. He said that asking questions is more important. That is why during intercultural discussions of his films, people tend to speak about universal issues. These films are treated as culturally significant texts, as a source of knowledge about man and his problems, about the mental state of all of us who happen to find ourselves in a difficult life situation, as for example life-threatening danger or the severing of interpersonal ties. Modern interpretations of the meanings of The Decalogue show the timelessness and repetitive nature of certain matters and human behaviors, regardless of place and time.