Corinne Beale: The Decalogues

The two films of the Decalogue series are both examples of Midrash. They are both a portrayal of the commandments given to Moses, by God in the Old Testament of the Bible. These films assist in understanding the Ten Commandments and how they apply to real-life situations. The first commandment was that there should be no other gods before the one, true God. In this film, it is exemplified through the father and son what putting other things before God can result in. The father was prioritizing the computer and technology in general and was paying less and less attention to his son and his relationship with God was essentially non-existent. As the short film progressed, the boy began asking his aunt questions about religion and spirituality, to which she explained the family's history. It was also seen that the father had lost his faith over time. Towards the end of the film, the father was entangled in his work and missed the multiple signals given throughout the day that his boy had fallen through the ice while skating and died. He had relied so heavily on the truth of his technology and was not willing to believe that the computer had given him false results. The moral of this film in regards to the Ten Commandments was that when people get trapped in the business of life, it is easy to forget the importance of having a relationship with God and putting him first. This is not to say that if God is ignored, terrible things will happen. However, this story is a good portrayal of the importance of putting God and others ahead of our own selfish glory. The second film was a Midrash of the fifth commandment, "Thou shall not commit murder." The story portrays a young boy who kills a series of innocent people. Although both films are very difficult to watch, they bring to life the reality of the Ten Commandments and the weight of their meaning. They are not something to be taken lightly. Often times, people believe that the laws of the Old Testament are not applicable to modern life because the sacrifice of Jesus changed everything. However, of nothing else, the Ten Commandment are good moral guidelines to follow. I personally believe they are more important and significant than that. The Decalogue films, although dark, provide a great portrayal of the meaning of the Ten Commandments and their applicability to present-day.