The sixth entry in Kierstof Kieslowski’s profound series of films on the 10 commandments, this one focused entirely on the taboo and unsettling topic of adultery. It’s worth noting that Kieslowski chooses to approach this topic with unfiltered boldness. He shows us a truly strange story within this series. Focusing on the young man who finds himself being seduced, we see a window (literally) into the life of an isolated individual who is driven by his desire to watch a woman who lives across the street from him. This desire grows until he cannot help but come clean to her in the street and tell her the truth about his actions, while comically introducing himself to her at the same time.
This is where the film takes a sharp turn from the study of the seduced young man and shifts to the seducer, an older woman who initially is (rightfully so) disturbed and upset, but who later that night invites the boy into her room. They never sleep together, they only talk of it, but the event leads to a heartbroken young boy who has lost the mystery of his desire and is left with the shame of him not being able to fulfill what he had dreamed of in his mind. From here on out the film centers on the woman who now is obsessed with checking up on this young man and helping him, feeling guilty for somehow hurting him yet also desiring someone to desire her.
It’s a very twisted, yet believable story of two people who must’ve gotten something wrong about love along the way through their lives. It’s got an achingly powerful yet somehow heartbreaking final line:
(SPOILER)
“I no longer watch you.”