Review of A Short Film About Love (1988) by Edgar C — 11 Aug 2013

"Thou shalt not commit adultery.".

There is an impossibility to relate to what doesn't belong to us; everything is an irrational impulse, originated, in this case, by the illusion of having similarities with another lost person, but the impossibility is meant to become evident at some point, and hence Tomek's harmful decision near the conclusion out of shame when his opportunity physically came without being able to handle it. The "opposites attract" law does not exist, but "similar persons attract" is not a law either; the intertwining personality coincidences will sooner or later collide negatively. Here we have two nude souls seeking for something that hasn't been even determined by them, because love is undetermined and therefore nonexistent: she says that love does not exist; he says he loves her when love implies so much more.

The ending is once again a proof that Kieslowski's boldness is a constant; he always tackled difficult human issues. The film could have explored its brilliant themes more deeply if a longer running time had been used, and I know Kieslowski would have treated them well:

- How obsession can be turned the other way around.

- How intelligent the "crying over spilled milk" metaphor came to be... literally.

- The reflexive conclusion.

Extra points go for the mother though! She handled the situation brilliantly, not allowing herself to be dominated by emotional impulse. Maybe if she had provided a thought-provoking lecture to the woman, points would have gone up!

Message? All you need is love. Absolutely, love is a need given the human condition.

82/100.