St. Scholastica will present free screenings of “The Decalogue,” 10 films by director Krzysztof Kieslowski beginning Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Mitchell Auditorium on campus.

“The Decalogue” is another name for the Ten Commandments. Two one-hour films will be shown at each of five screenings over four days. Screenings are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7; Friday, Feb. 8; and Saturday, Feb. 9; and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10. Dr. Nathan Carroll will introduce the series prior to the screening on Thursday, Feb. 7. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication, Theatre and Art at St. Scholastica.

The series first appeared on Polish television in 1988 and 1989. It is regarded by many to be one of the masterpieces of modern cinema. Each film is set in the same Soviet-style apartment complex in Warsaw and loosely based on one of the Ten Commandments.

“While the films may be viewed individually, the thematic and emotional range expressed over the course of the series gives ‘The Decalogue’ a special cumulative power when viewed in its entirety,” said Brad Snelling, series’ coordinator. He is an assistant professor at The College of St. Scholastica Library.

“Our festival will offer a rare opportunity for students and members of the Duluth community to see these films on the big screen.”

The New York Times called the series a “masterwork of modern cinema, essential viewing for anyone who cares about the movies as a serious art form.” The Chicago Tribune called it “one of the great movie achievements of our time.”

The films are licensed through New Yorker Films, and will be shown using digital video projection.

The screenings are sponsored by St. Scholastica’s Communication, Theatre and Art Department, the School of Arts and Letters, The College of St. Scholastica Library, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Braegelman Catholic Studies Program, and the Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice.

For more information, contact Brad Snelling at (208) 723-6644 or bsnellin@css.edu.