In telling their story, Kieślowski and Piesiewicz opted for a comedic tone, and 'X' is one of the wittiest episodes of the entire Decalogue. Krzysztof Piesiewicz said the following about its creation process:
'Decalogue X' is a story about the desire to possess, to multiply what you possess. But for people to 'buy' it, to accept it, you need to create characters who are sympathetic, even comical.
This is how Jerzy, a city dweller with the looks of a clerk, and Artur, a young rebel playing in a punk band, were born. Seemingly very different, they have to learn to work together after their father’s death. At the same time, they both learn a painful lesson about themselves and their own weaknesses.
Decalogue X stands out from the rest of the series with its level of acting. It is impossible to find a single inauthentic character here. Kieślowski’s choice of actors is flawless, focusing on their on-screen energy and acting specialisation. Thus, Jerzy Stuhr brings his innate vis comica to the screen and even in dramatic scenes smuggles in a priceless element of humour, while the innocence and naivety of the young Zbigniew Zamachowski becomes the building block of the character of the young rocker, who suddenly has to confront his own greed and hypocrisy.
This is not the end of the acting show in ‘X’ – the teenage Maciej Stuhr is brilliant as well. Alongside his father, he shows an unprecedented naturalness and freedom in front of the camera. Henryk Bista also gives a great performance as a diabolic, but at the same time moving stamp collector and father of a dying daughter.