Tenebrae

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

In 1977, Stephen King wrote «Rage». Then, in the end of the 1980s, the US suffered a number of high school shootings and hostage takings, inspired by the novel. Shocked by such similarities, Stephen King decided let Rage fall out of print in the United States. In 1982, Dario Argento made a film with a similar theme.

Almost everyone likes to read or watch a bloody thriller, detective or action story. We do it for the sake of getting some relaxation or pleasure. The quality of such films or books is judged by the graphic details. Nevertheless, when you are reading in a subway or turning on a TV, have you ever thought what was the source of inspiration for the author was? Was it written or shot with the real blood or it was merely a byproduct of a sick mind?

Dario Argento doesn’t give us the straight answer. One of the main themes of Tenebrae is a work of a subconsciousness. The Director is interested in inner fears, how the victim could turn in the hunter and vice versa? How a law abiding citizen could turn into the ruthless murderer? Tenebrae asks us – was it books which turn us to murder or is it a specific murderer’s gene, which sits into some of us since the birth?

Rome plays a special part in Tenebrae. We all got used to a beautiful Eternal City. In this film, Dario Argento breaks all the traditional clichés. Argento’s Rome is a cold place and an ideal spot for killers. All of the main colors are steely as a razor blade.

Tenebrae is much bloodier than other films of Dario Argento. I am not a big fan of an extreme violence, but the murders, shot by Argento, are rather stylish and inventive (the most suitable words). Compared with Lucio Fulci, who merely shot extreme violence, Dario Argento shows a twisted psychic of the murders. Maybe, after watching Tenebrae, you would question the fun of bloody books or films.

In comparison with most of the thrillers and crime stories, the story of Tenebrae is rather real. Every day, the media tells us about brutal murders, that is why, the store of Tenebrae could become real.

After not-so-good Inferno, Dario Argento gained back his artistic ground with giallo. Of course, Tenebrae is not Profondo Rosso, but still this film is very interesting and watchable. Tenebrae is a must see for all fans of Dario Argento, giallo and thrillers.

Bez konca

In which Poland?

In the mid-1980s, Krzysztof Kieślowski taught a directing class in West Germany. One day, a young German started to explain his political beliefs. Back then, the radical left groups, as RAF, were popular in the West and a young German was no exception to this. While listening, Krzysztof Kieślowski was smiling politely, but in his eyes were: «Fool, you live in a normal country!». Then the Director said the following: «Andreas, the politics is a dirty business. My only concern, only if there is enough toilet paper in the toilets».

Krzysztof Kieślowski was apolitical in his life and art. He never made politically charged cinema, never belonged to any political parties, clubs or movements. He shot films not for the sake of politics, but for the sake of people, or rather what unites them. That is why, in the socialistic Poland the Director was bullied by Communists and Opposition.

In 1984, at the first glance, Krzysztof Kieślowski changed his art model, by making a political film. If you dug deeper, behind the façade of a story about the death of a young and brave lawyer, who defended a political prisoner, lays a completely different story.

In «Bez konca», Krzysztof Kieślowski portrayed the Polish society during the rule of Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski. The Polish society portrayed as lost, disappointed and utterly pessimistic. The members of Solidarity portrayed as a crushed idealists, who are desperately trying neither to survive, neither to show the last case of obstruction. In this crushed country a tragedy of a widow starts out. She sees the shadows of her husband everywhere and nothing can help her to forget the past and continue life.

As in «Three colors: Blue», Krzysztof Kieślowski examines the question of personal, not political liberty though the history a widow. In these films, the Director asks us the following questions: can someone abandon the past and continue to live? Can suicide be interpreted as a choice of a free man and a way to escape the unbearable situation?

The other part of the film deals with a trial of a young factory worker, charged with organizing a strike. In this part steps out another important character – an old defense attorney Labrador, who takes the case after the death of Antek. The Director channels his thoughts through Labrador – if you didn’t choose death by facing the tanks during the introduction of the martial law, why are you trying to get executed now? Is it worth to fight for the sake of the crashed rebellion?

Almost every character is trying to build his imaginary life in Poland and to escape not-so-good reality. But if you try to escape reality though fantasy, the life would viciously attack you. Of course, if you read history, you would find a case to reproach the Director for extreme pessimism. But before doing that, check the release date and forgive the late Krzysztof Kieślowski. In 1984, no one couldn’t anticipate the crush of the Iron Curtain.

Before the late 1980s, Krzysztof Kieślowski was not too appreciated by snobbish western critics. His films were not accepted to the international film festivals, the Director was in a shadow of a more acclaimed Poles (as Andrzej Waida). Despite all of that snobbery, the films of Krzysztof Kieślowski have one unique trait – they are universal. Their universality means that the stories of those films are understandable for everyone. We can associate ourselves with heroes of his Polish and French films. And you can’t say the same about some films of more famous Poles.

After the success of Decalogue, the snobbish critics began their collective praise of Krzysztof Kieślowski. Let’s join them and watch the film of this great master, who, unfortunately passed away too soon.