Trois Couleurs: by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1993 -1994)

Over three scattered weeks, I watched three great movies that make trilogy of “Trois couleurs” or three colors. The three movies were directed by late Polish film director and screen writer Krzysztof Kieslowski. And in my opinion, he is one of the most talented directors with a very special unforgettable fingerprint and cinematography.

The trilogy is made of three separate movies that are linked with one scene in the last movie of the trilogy which is Rouge.

The three colors are blue, white and red, which represent the French flag. Each color is said to be standing for France’s political pillars. Blue is for liberty. White is equality. And red stands for fraternity.

I think one reason why I fell in love with the three movies though with degrees is because the director is a novelist, not literally but he has the brush of a novelist when directing his movies. Audience can read every single ray of light, movement and silence…etc. It is fascinating how I enjoyed reading the movies rather than watching them. My train of thoughts was stimulated with each and every scene. I believe my love for literature could be the reason why I think this trilogy is simply a masterpiece.

I will tell you which color or movie that I loved the most to begin with. I love “Rouge”. Everyone who sees the three movies comes up with a favorite color. They are so encompassing to human psychology. It is hardly that one of the three movies can miss touching a part inside us. I was mesmerized by “Rouge”.

One thing about Krzysztof’s trilogy is that does not have much talk, however your mind and heart are continuously engaged in every scene.

“Blue”, "Bleu", stars Juliette Binoche. She plays Julie, wife of the famous composer Patrice de Courcy. Following the death of her husband and only daughter in an automobile accident, that she herself survives, she has to cope with the tragedy. The entire movie is about emotional liberty. Though she did not die in the accident but she subjects herself to mental suicide. She wanted to erase her ties with the past, leaving no memory with her past life. It is quite an experience to watch Binoche trying to cut her past off. Every time she plunges into the blue waters of the swimming pool, she tries to give herself a sense of emotional liberty. However, she could not successfully live her present or her future without reconciling with her tragic past. She learns how to live when she learns about her past rather than dumping it into the nothingness of life. The movie is filled with so many transparent visualizations related to water. The mood of the color blue brings feelings of serenity and clarity, a mood that certainly suits the pursuit of emotional liberty. The word emotional liberty might sound easy to write but it is so difficult to reach. It is a complex simplicity. Sometimes we trap ourselves in memories, experiences, emotions and feelings that never leave us. The cure is not forgetting but is simply getting into good terms with the self to let go or keep what we want to keep. We need to decide on what is happening to us in the past to lead a positive present and promising future.

White, “Blanc”, takes place between France and Poland. It is the only movie among the three that takes place between two places. White stands for equality. The movie starts with a humiliation scene in a court to a pole man married to a French woman. She is filing divorce for impotence reasons and sexual problems. In my own personal opinion, white did not stand for equality but rather for revenge. The entire movie was based on a revengeful plot executed by Karol (the husband). Karol is faced by difficulty of not speaking French. His wife stripped him out of any money. He begs in Paris metro station. He returns to Poland to plot his revenge. It is said that “Blanc” has a political sub-context playing the idea of communist countries and France. It has so many flashbacks that are just adding to the vagueness and restlessness that I experienced while watching it. White is not as angelic symbol as known. White is associated with foggy thinking and cruelty.

The last of the trilogy that links the three movies together is “Rouge”. This is also my favorite among the three. It is simply one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. It is a masterpiece painting. The more you look into it, the more it brings from inside you out. Red is simply is a bombshell of symbolism about human connections. All I can see that light was talking throughout the scenes. The dog that was featured said something in the few seconds it appeared in. Every single movement is subject to interpretation and meditation. The story is about this innocent Swiss student Valentine who meets this old experienced judge. The movie is about how unexpected human interactions can bring a new level to any human being’s life without expecting it. The idea might sound simple, but the movie brought in a very sophisticated way that made me almost want to repeat every scene to have a better understanding. The details are simple. Dialogue is short. However, the movie presents itself among one of the most intricate films. The movie is window for meditation into life cycles and human lives.

I am writing about this trilogy, because I would like to share with you my wonderful experience watching it. Do not miss watching it, if you have the chance. They are worth seeing…

Great Polish Director, French actresses, American production. ... It can never get better...