Joseph H. Humphreys III Blog

      In the first episode of Decalgoue the father puts all of his eggs into one basket which in this case is a computer. His son, probably around the age of 10-years-old, asks the dad to play on a frozen over pond. The dad then does this whole mathematical equation to figure out if his son would fall through. He finishes his calculation and tells his son he will be able to play on the pond. These “calculations” ended up being very wrong, the boy falls through and drowns in the pond. The father seems to be way to caught up in the numbers side of things that he doesn’t really use his common knowledge and common sense in general. The father lived in the profane and very rarely lets any elements of biblical text or Gods enter his life. It was interesting how the father thought of death as this very bland tasteless thing, he told his son death was simply when your heart stops and life leaves your body. While this is true it is just a very scientific way and heartless way to think of it. The father then goes to the church after his son's death and makes a scene by throwing a table. The whole congregation is disturbed by this but the goal of the film seems to instigate madrash. Madrash seems to have an overall goal of making it more personal for us rather than heartless and dry. Religion and belief in whoever and what ever is a medium of art that is suppose to ignite a deeper reason for life. 
      The second episode a young boy kills a taxi driver and then is killed by the higher authorities. This episode follows the commandment of "Thou Shall not Kill" which is a huge aspect of religious practices. It is very helpful to watch these episodes because it helps me understand the commandments better and the general message of them and certain religious practices. Wars a huge examples of this lesson, nations are gathered to kill one another. In what way can one justify their actions of killing someone in war? Thousands of innocent people have died because of radical terrorist attacks. Midrash occurs as Kieslowski doesn’t go into great detail to help encourage thoughtful actions by the viewer. I noticed myself trying to connect events and attempting to understand things by myself. Overall the episode was dry but I believe that was the intention for it.
      Both episodes take religious practices and give examples through episodes that require the viewer to get in touch with their sacred life. Kieslowski does a good job of using these episodes to give a better understanding of these religious aspects to his viewers. The episodes kind of remind me of how Sunday school is for children. The kids go in and are taught scripture and religious practices through children books/ stories. 

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