These two remarkable Polish features by Krzysztof Kieslowski, made respectively in 1987 and 1988 (and being shown for separate admissions), are both expanded versions of segments in his Decalogue, one of the key works in contemporary cinema, with each segment illustrating one of the Ten Commandments–though regrettably unseen and unavailable in this country apart from a few festival showings. A Short Film About Killing is a feature that might be called terminally Polish in its bleak handling of a brutal killing and the public execution of the murderer. It won the jury prize at Cannes and is probably the most powerful movie about the death penalty ever made. A Short Film About Love, located more centrally in the housing complex that recurs throughout Decalogue, is about the voyeuristic relationship between a troubled 19-year-old postal worker and a woman he spies on every night through his telescope–a relationship that becomes more complex and takes on certain overtones recalling Rear Window once the woman becomes aware of his gaze and decides to seduce him. Facets Multimedia Center, 1517 W. Fullerton, A Short Film About Killing: Friday, February 9, 7:00; Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11, 3:00 and 7:00; and Monday through Thursday, February 12 through 15, 7:00; A Short Film About Love: Friday, February 9, 9:00; Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11, 5:00 and 9:00; and Monday through Thursday, February 12 through 15, 9:00; 281-4114. –Jonathan Rosenbaum

Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): film stills.