Saturday, 25 August 2012

Three Colours Trilogy


IMDb: 

The Three Colours Trilogy is made up of the films; Blue, White and Red by Krzysztof Kieslowski that are loosely based on political ideals behind the French flag of liberty, equality and fraternity. Each film has a moment where there is an elderly person recycling bottles, which upon further reading also ties back into these three political ideals. These films are an intriguing insight into the human condition. The stories in Blue and Red are universal; everyone has lost loved ones and made friends and these stories were beautifully portrayed in their respective films. White is not as relatable on a generic level as nobody should have to experience that kind of desperation, however it was an intriguing story none the less. By the end of the final film the interwoven worlds of the all these characters collide.

Blue

The first in the trilogy follows the life of Julie after losing her husband and daughter in a car accident. There is a rawness about this film and you can really feel Julie's pain and heartache. At times it feels like you are an observer in her life rather than watching a film. In a life that has been turned upside down Julie tries to cut herself off from the rest of the world, she doesn’t need or want any more pain in her life. But it’s not that easy, we are intrinsically connected to the world around us and despite her best efforts she finds herself forging an unlikely friendship with an exotic dancer. She is also forced to face her husband’s past and the final legacy that was his music.

There is a beautifully symbolic use of blue throughout the film including the light hanging, Julie’s ring, the room at the house, water and general lighting. A haunting soundtrack also really adds to the overall tone of the film.

Blue portrays a journey of loss, putting your life back together and closure.

White

The second in the trilogy follows the life of Karol Karol who has recently gone through a distressing separation from his wife. Karol is left with nothing and in a desperate bid to leave France and get back to Poland he is smuggled in a suitcase by Mikolaj, whom he befriends at the train station at his lowest point. Mikolaj however is also at the lowest point of his own life and contemplating death. It is in their darkest hours these two develop a friendship and bring the other back from the brink. When Karol comes into some money from a successful business deal Mikolaj helps him fake his death to get back at his distranged wife.

The symbolic use of white appeared through nature; clouds and snow.

These characters’ stories were ones of desperation and second chances.

Red


The final in the trilogy follows the unlikely friendship between a retired judge and a model. She is in a seemingly dead-end relationship and he has become bitter and angry at the world. When Valentine hits a dog with her car and traces her back to Joseph she finds a man who has taken to eavesdropping on his neighbours phone conversations. Red is touching story of two people who have lost their way. The friendship between these two characters is wonderful as they both gain so much from the time they spend together.

Red had a symbolic use of colour throughout the film both in objects and surrounding; the dominant one being the advertisement that Valentine modelled for.

Red is a beautiful story about friendship and new beginnings.  

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