Beautiful.
I want you to
see "Three Colors: Red," the final film in
Krzysztof Kieslowski's masterful trilogy names
after the colors of the French flag.
I desperately want you to see this film despite
the fact that my mind has never fully
comprehended its meaning, its actions, its
dialogue, or its purpose.
I want you to feel Kieslowski's words come to
life in the hands of actors who seemingly
surrender to a journey with no defined purpose,
no absolute destination. From the simple,
innocent curiosity of Valentine (Irene Jacob),
who is seemingly going nowhere in particular,
yet always going somewhere to the world and life
weariness of a retired judge (Jean-Louis
Trintignant), "Red" creates a journey that
enfolds all that is life within its grasp.
"Red" is a journey through connection, both
known and unknown, and a gentle journey through
friendships, relationships, redemption,
forgiveness, and belief.
There are films that almost defy review. They
simply must be experienced. "Red" is such a
film. It is a film I deeply love, but can only
begin to comprehend. It is a film I deeply
admire, but have a hard time explaining this
admiration. It is a film that is beautiful to
behold, but simply enchanting in its language.
It is one of very few films during which I've
had the experience of completely forgetting I
was looking at subtitles while viewing the film.
I was captivated, hypnotized and deeply, deeply
in love with these individuals who had become so
much more than characters to me.
I do not understand life. I often find myself in
deep contemplation about friendships and
relationships and why certain people meet and
fall in love and marry and make babies and why
others are seemingly destined to live a lonely,
sad existence until the day they die.
I do not understand, but I do embrace the
journey. Kieslowski, too, embraces the journey
and looks at the journey with the most innocent
of eyes. He brings forward stellar performances
from his entire cast in bringing to life this
precious tale.
Kieslowski reportedly said that following this
three times Oscar-nominated film he would retire
from filmmaking. Indeed, for six years, he did
so. Fortunately, for all lovers of cinema, he
returned to writing and has continued to
manifest such brilliant works as "Heaven" and a
scenario in this year's "L'Enfer." There are too
few great minds in modern cinema. While I may
not have a full comprehension of "Three Colors:
Red," I cannot deny its utter greatness.
©
Written by Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
