A Short Film About Killing
Seen it?1988 | 85 min | Crime, Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Cape Fear or Collateral, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 25 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Polish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Jacek climbs into the taxi driven by Waldemar, tells him to drive to a remote location, then brutally strangles him, seemingly without motive.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 30K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski
- Mirosław BakaJacek Łazar
- Krzysztof GlobiszPiotr Balicki
- Jan TesarzWaldemar Rekowski
- Zbigniew ZapasiewiczCommittee Chairman
- Barbara DziekanCashier
- Aleksander BednarzThe Executioner
- Jerzy ZassPolice Commander
- Zdzisław TobiaszJudge
- Artur BarciśYoung Man
- Krystyna JandaDorota