A Short Film About Killing

A Short Film About Killing

Year: 1988

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: Polish

Director: Krzysztof Kieślowski

CrimeDramaHumanity and the world around usGripping intense violent crimeGraphic violence and brutal revenge

Jacek climbs into the taxi driven by Waldemar, tells him to drive to a remote location, then brutally strangles him, seemingly without motive.

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Timeline – A Short Film About Killing (1988)

Trace every key event in A Short Film About Killing (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

A taxicab life in Warsaw begins

Waldemar Rekowski is introduced as a middle-aged, overweight taxi driver in Warsaw who takes pleasure in staring at young women. He drives the city, his crude habits shaping his routine and interactions with others.

Warsaw
2

Jacek arrives in Warsaw and tests luck on the streets

Jacek Łazar, a 19-year-old drifter, has just arrived in the city and spends his days causing misfortunes. He provocatively interacts with people: he throws a stranger into urinals, drops a stone from a bridge to cause an accident, and disturbs pigeons to annoy an old lady.

Warsaw
3

A cafe encounter sets the scene

At the same cafe, Piotr Balicki, a fresh-lawyer, brings his wife to discuss their future. Jacek sits nearby, handling a rope and a stick from his bag and then puts them away when he notices two girls playing. This moment reveals Jacek's unsettling dual life and his capacity for quiet restraint.

Cafe in Warsaw
4

Jacek's sister's death and trauma

It is revealed that Jacek is deeply traumatized by the death of his sister, a memory that fuels his later actions. This backstory helps explain his unsettling flirtations and unpredictable cruelty.

5

The fateful ride begins

Waldemar spots Jacek near the cafe and stops to pick him up, beginning a long ride toward a remote part of the city. Jacek asks to be driven to a countryside area and insists the driver take a longer, more secluded route.

On the road to a remote part of the city, Warsaw outskirts
6

The murder in the remote area

At the destination, Jacek murders Waldemar by strangling him with rope, then beating him with an iron bar and crushing his head with a rock. The crime is brutal and decisive, carried out with cold efficiency.

Remote outskirts of Warsaw
7

Jacek is captured and faces trial

Sometime after the murder, Jacek is captured and imprisoned. He is interviewed by his criminal defense lawyer Piotr Balicki, who has just begun his career after finishing studies.

Prison in Warsaw
8

The trial and death sentence

Despite Piotr's best efforts, the evidence against Jacek is strong and he is found guilty. He is sentenced to death by hanging.

Courtroom, Warsaw
9

The day of execution approaches

On the appointed day, the executioner arrives at the jail and Piotr attends, learning that he has just become a father. The atmosphere is tense as the state prepares to carry out the sentence.

execution day Prison, Warsaw
10

Last confessions and final requests

Before his execution, Jacek reveals to Piotr that his younger sister was killed by a tractor driven by his drunken friend, a tragedy that haunted him. He asks that Piotr retrieve a photo from his belongings and give it to his mother, and requests to be buried next to his sister and father.

Prison cell/corridor, Warsaw
11

Final rites and the cigarette

Jacek receives last rites and is offered a final cigarette by the warden. He asks for a non-filter cigarette, and the executioner lights one for him before it is stubbed out.

Prison, execution area
12

The hangings and the final moment

Despite the guards' attempts to restrain him, Jacek breaks free and yells as he is led to the execution chamber. He is eventually hanged after his hands are shackled, marking the formal end of his life.

Execution chamber, prison
13

Piotr's somber drive home

In the aftermath, Piotr drives to an empty field and sobs, reflecting on the case and the limits of justice. The film closes with this quiet moment of personal tragedy.

Empty field outside Warsaw

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:35

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