Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Go-To Film: A Timeless Masterpiece

Some actors might not always be front and centre, but they have a knack for popping up in the best films, often in roles that, while not flashy, are absolutely vital. Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of those blokes. Most Aussies probably know him from his Oscar-nominated turn in 12 Years a Slave, but he’d already been making waves long before that, landing a part in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad just a few months into his acting studies. He’s also been spotted in American Gangster, Children of Men, and even Love Actually—though, let’s not hold that last one against him.

Given his impressive filmography, it’s only natural to wonder what Ejiofor himself likes to watch when he’s off the clock. While his Letterboxd ‘Four Favourites’ gives a bit of insight, a chat he had with the MetFilm school in Manchester offers a more revealing answer. When asked about his top pick, he admitted it changes all the time, but he keeps coming back to Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog.

“It’s a very beautiful piece of work centred around the Ten Commandments,”

he said.

“It’s set in basically one location and was shot in the 1980s for television. I always look to Dekalog if I am wanting to think about things and get inspired about things like relationship dynamics in film, setting environments, and psychology, and how all that intersects with cinematography. So that’s what I come back to the most.”

Why Dekalog Stands Out

Ejiofor was quick to point out that he’s bending the rules a bit, since Dekalog isn’t just one film—it’s a series of ten. Kieślowski crafted this anthology to explore how the Ten Commandments play out in modern-day Poland. Set in a single housing block during the 1980s, each part dives into themes like faith, science, truth, sex, and even murder. If you’ve got nearly ten hours to spare, you could binge the whole lot, but for most punters, checking out the extended versions—A Short Film About Killing and A Short Film About Love—might be a bit more manageable.

It’s not exactly the sort of thing you’d throw on for a lazy Sunday arvo, but Dekalog has earned its place as one of the most respected works in film history. Stanley Kubrick even wrote a foreword for the published script, calling it the only “masterpiece” he could name. Roger Ebert was a fan too, and Brady Corbet, who nabbed Best Director for The Brutalist, once said it might be the greatest achievement in cinema.

Influence and Enduring Appeal

For anyone keen on film, Dekalog can seem a bit daunting—ten films, heavy themes, and a hefty runtime. But with so many big names singing its praises, it’s hard not to be curious. Ejiofor’s admiration isn’t just about the stories themselves, but how they’re told: the way relationships are explored, the psychological depth, and the clever use of setting and camera work. It’s the sort of thing that keeps drawing him back, time and again.

So, while most of us might have a comfort film or two, Ejiofor’s pick is a reminder that sometimes, the most rewarding watches are the ones that challenge us, make us think, and stick with us long after the credits roll.