Refren

Kieslowski films government workers at an office that handles death certificates and other practical arrangements. We never see the families of the deceased, only the workers, who offer people plots, inform them of regulations, and deal with these difficult topics in an almost emotionless fashion. Kieslowski emphasizes the numbers (prices and codes) involved in the process, ending on a striking note that underlines the dehumanizing role of government in people's lives from beginning to end.