The Decalogue, as a film, explores the ethics and values mentioned in the biblical texts (the Ten Commandments). Instead of merely repeating the teachings on the Commandments, the director creates these dramatized situations for the audience to explore through and find meaning. I think that our ability to sympathize and/or empathize with these characters and their situations is very powerful. For example, I am sure there are moments when we all rely too much on technology for answers; have experienced loss; and have done terrible things to other people. Now, we may not have lost a child, worshiped a computer, or killed someone, but the root emotions of pain, hatred, and love are universally experienced. Because we are seeing the Commandments embedded in the personal experiences of these characters, we are able to contextualize the meaning in our own lives.
I think that the director was smart in choosing symbols that contemporize the commandments, thus creating a greater understanding of them. The integration of technology into the story (represents the other god in Decalogue I), and the court’s application of the death penalty (represents murder itself in Decalogue V) helps to bridge the gap of understanding because these things are prevalent in the present-day world.
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