Having adored the Arrow Academy box-set Cinema of Conflict: Four Films by Krzysztof Kieślowski (see Number 4above) I noticed that the box-set of Dekalog was available on their site, so I picked it up as it had been on my watch list for quite some time. I was not disappointed. As a complete work, these 10 hours must be among the best ever made. I ranked and reviewed them as I watched them in this list, and there’s very little to choose between most of them in terms of ranking. On one viewing only, my absolute favourite was 5, the one I liked least was 3, and spots 4-8 are pretty much all on the same level. I’m sure I will watch these again and again, and I’m also sure the order will be flexible too. But what an amazing collection of films.
Number 1 La Grande Illusion (1937, dir Jean Renoir)
Apart from the fact that Jean Gabin was a total snack, it’s amazing to think that this film with a definite anti-war and anti-class system sentiment appeared so presciently in 1937. Also loved the editing; no hanging around, everything moves on at a fair pace. I also laughed out loud several times; the humour was spot on! So happy to have discovered this over 80 years after it was made.
Isn’t cinema wonderful!
(Editor’s Note: When you have a list like Marie does in 2020… it isn’t just Wonderful it’s transcendent.)
Marie will be back later this week for her Top Ten of 2020!
Number 2 Dekalog (1989, dir Krzysztof Kieślowski)
Yes, in its entirety.
Having adored the Arrow Academy box-set Cinema of Conflict: Four Films by Krzysztof Kieślowski (see Number 4above) I noticed that the box-set of Dekalog was available on their site, so I picked it up as it had been on my watch list for quite some time. I was not disappointed. As a complete work, these 10 hours must be among the best ever made. I ranked and reviewed them as I watched them in this list, and there’s very little to choose between most of them in terms of ranking. On one viewing only, my absolute favourite was 5, the one I liked least was 3, and spots 4-8 are pretty much all on the same level. I’m sure I will watch these again and again, and I’m also sure the order will be flexible too. But what an amazing collection of films.
Number 1 La Grande Illusion (1937, dir Jean Renoir)
Apart from the fact that Jean Gabin was a total snack, it’s amazing to think that this film with a definite anti-war and anti-class system sentiment appeared so presciently in 1937. Also loved the editing; no hanging around, everything moves on at a fair pace. I also laughed out loud several times; the humour was spot on! So happy to have discovered this over 80 years after it was made.
Isn’t cinema wonderful!
(Editor’s Note: When you have a list like Marie does in 2020… it isn’t just Wonderful it’s transcendent.)
Marie will be back later this week for her Top Ten of 2020!
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