Themes: Unrequited Love, Age Disparity Romance, Suicide
Main Cast: Olaf Lubaszenko, Grazyna Szapolowska, Stefania Iwinska, Piotr Machalica
Release Year: 1988
Country: PL
Run Time: 86 minutes
Plot
In this ironic Polish seriocomedy, Tomek (Olaf Lubaszenko), a young shy postal worker, worships Magda (Grazyna Szapolowska) from afar -- literally, peering at her through spyglasses. She shatters his illusions about pure, ideal love by stating matter-of-factly that she believes only in sex. Despondent, he tries to forget her, and when this fails, he attempts to kill himself. Upon recovering from his botched suicide, Tomek is amazed to learn that Magda has become hopelessly infatuated with him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Made six years before his final film, Red, Krzysztof Kieslowski's A Short Film About Love foreshadows Red with not only themes of fraternity featured the final chapter of his beloved Three Colors trilogy, but with the same poetic technique that has made Kieslowski's best work so astounding. Originally made as the sixth chapter in Kieslowski's ten-hour-long Decalogue series, this extended version features a longer ending that adds to the haunting beauty of the shorter version. By focusing on the characters' unique version of what true love is, Kieslowski offers a heartfelt study on every complex aspect of the emotion -- exactly what the film's title promises. The film features perfect casting with Polish actor Olaf Lubaszenko playing the role of peeping Tom postal worker, Tomek. A Short Film About Love features a sparse yet constantly powerful score from master score composer Zbigniew Preisner. The film acts as both an introduction to the phenomenal cinematic craft of Kieslowski and as proof of his immense talent for any admirer. A Short Film About Love is an astonishing film. ~ Jason Gibner, All Movie Guide
Cast
Olaf Lubaszenko - Tomek
Grazyna Szapolowska - Magda
Stefania Iwinska - Landlady
Piotr Machalica - Roman
Artur Barcis - Young Man
Credit
Halina Dobrowolska - Art Director, Malgorzata Obloza - Costume Designer, Krzysztof Kieslowski - Director, Ewa Smal - Editor, Zbigniew Preisner - Composer (Music Score), Magdalena Dipont - Production Designer, Halina Dobrowolska - Production Designer, Witold Adamek - Cinematographer, Ryszard Chutkowski - Production Manager, Ryszard Chutkowski - Producer, Nikodem Wolk-Laniewski - Sound/Sound Designer, Krzysztof Kieslowski - Screenwriter, Krzysztof Piesiewicz - Screenwriter
A Short Film About Love (Polish: Krótki film o miłości) is an expanded film version of the sixth episode of director Krzysztof Kieślowski's 1988 Polish language ten-part television series, The Decalogue. Set in Warsaw, the film is about obsession.
The storyline explores the themes of love and voyeurism through an examination of the relationship between nineteen-year old Tomek (Olaf Lubaszenko), raised in an orphanage, and an older woman named Magda (Grażyna Szapołowska) that begins when he spies on her sex life through a telescope from his bedroom window across a courtyard to her apartment. Obsessed with her, and growing bolder, the young man invents reasons to make contact until finally he meets her and confesses his conduct and feelings. Their entanglement leads to deep psychological problems for both showing, without saying, right and wrong changing back and forth. Like Kieślowski's other Decalogue films, it features the mysterious angelic 'Man In White'.
The film resembles the original television version, with minor changes and expansions to the script. The most significant change is to the ending, which was rewritten at the suggestion of lead actress Grażyna Szapołowska, who wanted the film to have a "fairytale ending".[1] The original version ends with Tomek back at work, recovered from his attempted suicide, and telling Magda that he does not watch her anymore. The film ends with Magda's more developed concern for Tomek mirroring his earlier obsession with her. The film concludes in Tomek's room after his return from hospital. She looks through his telescope into her own apartment and Kieślowski replays an earlier scene of Magda crying in her kitchen, which had led Tomek to reveal his feelings to her, only this time she is joined and comforted by Tomek.
