This year, the international retrospective of It’s All True – International Documentary Film Festival celebrates the non-fiction works of Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996). Kieslowski became one of the most acclaimed directors of the 20th century’s last two decades with films like the TV series “The Decalogue” (1989) and the “Three Colors” trilogy (1993/94) and, in between them “The Double Life of Véronique” (1991). Over a decade after his premature death, the first Kieslowski, the one of his initial phase as a documaker, remains a fundamental continent that remains unkown.

In documentary film, Kieslowski was as innovative and accurate in the structure of his narratives as he was in fiction. He changed devices and strategies, tested boundaries, established himself as a fully-fledged creator. Regardless of the genre, his focus was always closed in on the individuality of each human existance and on the power of chance. His first films deal essentialy with daily life in socialist Poland. He portrays ordinary men and women, common workers, dull burocrats. “Seize gestures and moments – this is the interest of documentary film and also its trap”, said Kieslowski. “The more I got closer to the heart, the intimacy of the characters, the more afraid I was”. Therefore, it was not surprising that Kieslowski affirmed his definitive transition from documentary to fiction was due to ethical issues. “I fear real tears. In fact, I don’t know if I have the right to film them.” The game was different in the fiction stage. True lies interested him.

From the 21 non-fiction short and medium-length films he directed between the mid 60’s and the early 80’s, It’s All True, in collaboration with the Consulate of Poland and Film Polski, presents 17 works followed by three recent documentaries about the filmmaker. Here is the mystery of life according to KK.

AMIR LABAKI