Red: Three Colors Trilogy -- What Makes This Movie Great?

[@pazer97]

This film made me feel emotions that I have never felt before. A weird mix of melancholy and hopefulness for humanity, desperation and acceptance. I will never be able to grasp what I felt.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes!

[@mohamedsafaei887]

Felt the same

[@davidotoole9328]

This is lovely.

[@scotttully8572]

I've been adoring this movie for decades, but last night's viewing brought a new insight. This movie is about FORGIVENESS. The judge is a part of us that is harmed and does not know how forgive. At this point, we become like the retired judge: we shut down, we find ourselves ruminating over "motives", "culpability", "pity", etc., sometimes for decades. We become old and frail, until we can no longer love anything or anyone. Cracks start to appear; we notice that these walls have shut us in. We have even forgotten how to ask for - or accept - help. Enter another person (another part of ourselves, which could represent our own soul) who knows how to love us in a way that INCLUDES our faults, someone who does NOT judge us, whose forgiveness towards us helps us forgive OURSELVES. Then, and only then, are we able to return to our past vulnerability, our past ALIVENESS, and (in this case) our past SELF. Only then are we ready to have the relationship we always wanted, but were blocked from by our own stubbornness. We can finally look out at the world again, through the broken window - as in the final scene - with optimism and self-love. Does this ring a bell for anyone? Many blessings!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@barry5462]

It's interesting that during the photo shoot,Valentine has to be coerced into showing the emotion of sadness When she is listening to the judge,basically berating every single human being he has ever been in contact with,Valentine starts to cry and tells him that not every person is bad in life.. She did not need to be told how to feel sadness,she actually felt sadness and i think in a way,the judge forced her to confront repressed emotions she had been bottling up for years

[@slyslaughter5115]

Yes

[@yujie7759]

I love how Kiewslowski understands the complexity of humanity but doesn't dwell too much on either the dark or the bright side of it. He treated his characters with great mercy at the end of Red. That was such a soft and sophisticated touch on the topic...

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, thank you.

[@craziieitallian]

This is a fantastic analysis, thank you! Another interesting reoccurrence I found in this film is dogs. Especially with the theme of fraternity, dogs are commonly known as "man's best friend". The scene where the lost dog runs to find its true home when given the chance, followed by the scene with Auguste who, after contemplation, goes back and retrieves his dog who he originally wanted to get rid of. I'm not sure how to eloquently portray this message from Kieslowski, but I feel this is a strong metaphor of true fraternity having the ability of redemption and ultimately finding its home, regardless of fate or rather creating its own fate.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you, yes, that makes a lot of sense. I"ll have to think if there are other pets like this in his movies.

[@renrais4762]

This film made me realize how terrible my rating scheme for movies I watch are. I feel like I need to watch this multiple times along with watching the rest of Kieślowski's filmography and maybe even do some reading on the film's cultural context and why it was made before rating it. I'm not ashamed to admit a lot of this film flew over my head.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

stick to your ratings -- you have your own unique POV. That might develop over time, yet I would not be ashamed of what I preferred and did not.

[@ankitbiswas101]

Chance has brought me here. The fact that I am liking your video and that I have watched the Three Colours Trilogy over the last 3 days is just a coincidence. 3 years ago, I hadn't even heard about this movie. Today, I have watched them and I am in awe of it. The best movie maker I have seen so far. I am blessed to have watched this piece of art. Also, if the scene where the 7 people survive was shown before the three parts, i.e. If we watch the events in reverse, it all makes sense. Life is meant to be lived forwards, but it makes sense backwards. Also, thanks for making the review. It's great!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you. You will definitely want to see his other movies. Blind Chance, Double Life of Veronique, etc.

[@ankitbiswas101]

@@LearningaboutMovies surely, I will. I will also watch the Dekalog. Can you tell me the order in which I should watch his filmography now that I have watched the 3 color trilogy?

[@KrishnachandranU]

Came across the channel today in the same way. Watched the three movies past weekend. Any idea where we can watch Blind Chance?

[@TulfRandom]

@@KrishnachandranU It's streaming on the Criterion Channel

[@KrishnachandranU]

@@TulfRandom Thank you!

[@michaelgask]

I agree with you that this film and this director need to be written about more! I remember when I first saw the trilogy when they were first released, I felt that Blue was the most satisfying movie in and of itself, but that Red was the most profound. I think Kieslowski, in this movie, is asking about "fate". As you point out, in many of his films the notion of blind chance is important: what if a different thing happened and we took another path, and everything turned out differently? In Red, it often (to me) feels spooky because it feels like there *isn't* the notion of blind chance... what can seem like luck at the time turns out to be predestined fate. I'm not sure if other people feel like this about Red, but to me it questions who is in control (the judge, the filmmaker?), and exactly how much agency we have over our own fate, and how much ability we have to change the path of our lives. Thank you for your review and analysis of Three Colours. Now I have to go back and watch them all again!

[@alancantu2557]

One of the best movies I’ve ever watched. It has so many layers to it as well as endless rewatch value. Kieslowski is one of the few directors I’ve seen that truly understands how people work and what motivates them. The Joseph Kern character was fantastic, and Irene Jacob’s performance as Valentine is gorgeously crafted. The scene in the theater where Kern tells Valentine about his failed love life, only to be interrupted by the janitor, was the best for me. The ending sequence is also brilliant. All around great film.

[@ARG3NFIFA]

Wow, excellent analysis. Now I get it. Three movies of differents dramas: Blue tragedy, Blanc comedy, Rouge romance.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes! you got it.

[@anantambisht4895]

Anti tragedy , anti comedy , anti romance

[@joebombero1]

Blanc is icy cold cruelty and indifference - definitely not comedy. A good French comedy is the Asterix and Obelisk series.

[@tennysontableau]

I knew a woman who liked this film very much. I loved her, and still do, in my mind at least.

[@sonora1ify]

I think young Auguste is actually the old judge and this is about changing the past.

[@dmicah3960]

Yes! He did meet Valentine after all after the shipwreck, which Kern didn’t!

[@thomasfranche6770]

I've always loved Red. I even painted my walls the same color as Valentine's and the Judge's walls.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

wow, that is inspiration!

[@kevzsabz8253]

My favourite film out of the Trilogy. Irene Jacob is incredible and should have been nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars on this movie alone. Can you also do a review and analysis on Matthieu Kassovitz's 1995 film La Haine. Its one of my favourite French movie of the 1990s. Please 🙏 🙏

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. I'll check that movie out for sure.

[@acdragonrider]

Too slow burn and dialogue heavy for me. Zoned out quickly. Three Colors Blue was far more emotionally evocative and effective in plot for me.

[@tiffanysmith7419]

Double Life of Veronica is one of my favorite movies (cinema paradiso takes first). I was in film school when he passed. There were tons of showings o f his movies. Saw the entire Decologue, all three color movies, and Veronica on the big screen then. I wrote papers on him, and have books about him.

[@The_Eno]

I can't say I have ever witnessed as great a use of colour in film as he has portrayed in this trilogy.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

one of many reasons why he is the master.

[@zacblake9249]

Annette Insdorf has an excellent book on the movies of Kieszlowszki: Double Lives, Second Chances. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to get into Kieszlowski's cinema.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

excellent. I think this is the first book ever recommended in the comments here.

[@peternewman7940]

Smart, perceptive commentary. So refreshing to find someone opening up some of the complexity in this film and some of the motifs easily missed. I love what he says about the ambiguities in the idea of fraternity. Oh and are photographers - or artists - angels of darkness or angels of the light? Do they bring us what is real, what is truthful - or do they deceive, do they stand as outsiders or inside? And artists themselves must perhaps be both lovers and judges - creative pursuit requires both. The imagery in this movie is beautiful. Perhaps experiencing it really can help centre you, help you "just to be" and help to make you a better human being. There are certainly some "kickers" - some impacts. Kieslowski waves the tricolore high.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much.

[@katstraford8888]

Whenever I watch a movie which touches me deeply, I find myself looking for an explanation video for deeper understanding. My search had always been end with failure and till I discovered this video. I senced some of the metaphors or references but I wasn't quite sure. thanks to you, I filled all the blanks and I feel very satisfied. moreover, I expanded my pov. thank you so much for this great manner of telling

[@scotttully8572]

Kieslovski was a genius. One of my favorite directors, along with Tarkovskij and Kurusawa. My favorite of his is "A Short Film about Love", a re-elaboration of Decalogue 6. If you like the Trilogy, please check it out. 🙏

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, a remarkable film.

[@marymccluer1630]

Interesting symbolism with glass and storms! Storms may represent the element of chaos, of random chance that can throw one's plans off course. Glass may represent the fragility of our emotional constitution; the damage that tragedy can wrought. The old judge is bitter that he had lost the love of his life just as his career was about to take off. He meets Valentine, and she reminds him of his past love. She is curious about him, patient with him, and she intuits who he really is. Can he rewrite his own tragedy by bringing her together with a young law student who he sees as a sort of avatar for his younger self? If he succeeds, he will, at last, feel at peace.

[@marymccluer1630]

Ultimately, the judge in Red is the director, Krzysztof Kieslowski, himself. He was born in Warsaw in 1941, epicenter for much of the horrors of WWII. Can his faith in humanity be restored? Is there a path to rewriting tragedy, to rebuilding fraternity? Can faith in humanity be restored, even after the horrors of war?

[@domwalker6526]

This is one of the best trilogies of all time and your breakdowns are great

[@VelvetCat1]

Even though Blue is my favorite of the three movies, certainly Red has an aura of mystery and at the same time it's so moving it always makes me cry, even more than Blue, which begins with an actual tragedy

[@LearningaboutMovies]

excellent, thank you.

[@acdragonrider]

Idk why but Red bored me terribly and I couldn’t understand what was going on half the time.

[@VelvetCat1]

@@acdragonrider maybe with age and maturity one can appreciate movies and works from different angles and perspectives

[@davidbrizuela1042]

I love Pulp Fiction, but Three Colors: Red was robbed, the film deserved the Palme d’Or

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes!

[@peteowen3539]

Only just came across this movie. It is one I will watch many times, if only to gaze at the incredible beauty of Irene.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Definitely see her in The Double Life of Veronique.

[@peteowen3539]

@@LearningaboutMovies Already seen it. Bought the Blu ray.

[@alliedairpower2408]

I find the scene in the theatre during the storm to be David Lynch like in the sense that it's quite unsettling/ foreboding almost like it's taking place in a different universe, especially as the judge is describing his past which mirrors the younger judge ( also David lynch like with two characters being the same person).

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Lynch might've been proud to make "The Double Life of Veronique," and maybe Decalog 1.

[@toprak3479]

The parallel fates thing reminded me of Lost Highway (even though it's very different)

[@Necrow_Productions]

Amazing analysis! Also, I really like how you talked about the ending without spoiling it. I honestly think you talked about it in the most clever say possible. (Keeping it on theme, and not saying what happened but still tying it to the film) I think I love Blue the most out of the trilogy.

[@anonymousgirl799]

Brilliant movie. I've owned the trilogy for years. This movie for me shows the sheer power of coincidence in life.

[@johns123]

I just saw Red last night. SUCH a good movie. Your analysis is very good and I look forward to rewatching the film with it in mind

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much.

[@supermaxim109]

Great review, Andy there’s Far more to this movie, including it working as a clear allegory for Europe at the moment of unification, and the concept (in many of his works) of the possibility of there being a greater order in our lives somehow.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@slyslaughter5115]

I probably saw RED 9 times when it came out in cinemas in L.A. It gave me hope.

[@Indianabones007]

Just found out about these films hearing that Christopher Nolan rates him as one of the best. Just finished watching them all , in order of Blue, White and Red, amazing, loved them all and now trying ti dig in to them a bit deeper for the meanings that I’ve missed and to understand them more. Thank you for enlightening me on a lot of things.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome

[@davidfernandez1992]

That trilogy is so realistic in human reactions emotions and portrayals

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes indeed.

[@ognistawrozka4605]

I’m so proud to be polish rn after seeing this trilogy today✊😭

[@beleagueredcastle4410]

I really like Jean-Trintignant's character trying to steer Auguste from suffering the same fate as he.

[@busrakargorenn]

Great analyzes!😌 I love this trilogy more now, thanks to you 😍

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you. That means a lot.

[@clumsydad7158]

Fantastic movie, just watched it now. I was thinking the young lawyer was her boyfriend and that he was cheating on her throughout. The judge listening in on the private is almost like the modern, omniscient internet A.I. knowing our darkest secrets. The movie contrasts the uninformed passions of youth with the knowing remorse of age. The lawyer and judge as different versions of each other, and depending on when in life one met them, one may have a different opinion or experience of them. And 'fraternity' as a theme, friendship is overall accepting and understanding the imperfections of another, and loving and embracing them through that. The young woman is navigating relationships which range from possessive to impulsive to loving and must find the correct resolution, although error and hardship is often part of the youthful coming of age saga. And a lot of Kieslowski's physical reflections in this movie - mirror images and different sides of ourselves. Good job bringing out the image of the ad, the illusion of who we want to be, but the ideal nearly always masks our inability to achieve, but the best we can do is be on the continual journey towards, through the winds and stormy tides. Great job, thank you!

[@roaminronin7818]

Saw this for the 1st time about 2 months ago, really liked it. Also recently caught Double Life of Veronique (same director/star combo) & Three Colors White, all good. I see why you like Kieslowski so much now and like how much you capture from his films, way more than I did on 1st viewing. Didn't see that ending coming so prob should watched Three Colors in order.. but not too big a deal. Gotta get to Dekalog soon. Watched Dekalog 1 in early 20s & was not ready, probably more primed for it now

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Also watch his "Blind Chance," and if you like that, "Camera Buff."

[@roaminronin7818]

@@LearningaboutMovies thank you for the recommendations!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

no problem. Blind Chance is not for the completist, either. IT's a fascinating movie by itself, and if he had not made another one, it probably would've been much more acclaimed/lauded.

[@VelvetCat1]

I've been teaching film writing in college for years and I use Blue as a reference for many themes, but never considered using Red or even Double Life precisely because I think it's very hard to actually dialogue with them when you're in your 20's... I guess it's just the experience of life itself which allows you to interact way better with these films.

[@Antiklimax1989]

Really liked white, was OK with blue... But red does not speak to me at all for some reason. Compared to the other two it just seems so unfocused and all over the place. Am I the only one who has that impression?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

very interesting. and reasonable and fine!

[@Antiklimax1989]

@@LearningaboutMovies Maybe it's because this is his last movie and he knew it. My confusion might come from the fact that he is summarizing a filmography I have not seen that much of. Missing the opening statements on certain ideas in earlier movies for sure could result in me feeling the closing statements in this one come out of nowhere.

[@acdragonrider]

I LOVE 💙 , just watched ♥️ and it didn’t do anything for me either. Still need to see 🤍

[@moviegoer0657]

Just saw it. I couldn't believe how good it was! Perfect ending.

[@thenextsupreme9290]

i just watched this movie and i cant believe i didnt know about this channel! this video was so helpful thank you for making it :) you could do a video about David Lynch's Mulholland Drive...that's a very interesting movie to analyze

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. I'll consider it, though "The Elephant Man" is coming up next as a video I'll make and probably release in January.

[@ΛυδιαΚαραγιαννοπουλου]

Such a beautiful analysis, thank you!! I love the excitement and passion in the eyes of this guy about the movie!!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much.

[@dougo891]

Finally made it through "Red" a very richly textured film that has musical elements which are not as important as the themes in "Blue" but no less significant.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@cinemaantel5973]

Was waiting for this episode... loved it thoroughly! Great one, Josh! Would love to see you dissect Lee Chang dong movies next!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I just got Burning and will get to it this weekend. thank you.

[@roaminronin7818]

@@LearningaboutMovies enjoy, that one lingers. I know you didn't care for Parasite so much but there are similar themes.. but they're handled very differently

[@zachsutton6195]

Blue- Great White- ...exists Red- Masterpiece

[@Katkus.]

I don’t get the white hate. It’s amazing. My favourite one, although not by far

[@zachsutton6195]

@@Katkus. I just thought it was boring. Nothing wrong with anyone else liking it

[@Katkus.]

@@zachsutton6195 nothing wrong with disliking it either!

[@robertmares5244]

I just found your channel. I like your take on this movie. My favorite from the trilogy is blanc. I love this trilogy (and every movie on its own, equally) as a whole but blanc is just my personal favorite. Subscribed!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you very much, Robert, and welcome to the channel.

[@1330percy]

This is cinema. Thank you for this analysis!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome.

[@VelvetCat1]

Oh, yes it is. Don't you miss it? I'm afraid nowadays there's no one making this kind of movies anymore.

[@TheDIZZYCLAN]

I think the notion of semiotics and Roland Barthes' work plays a lot into how this film uses thematic devices such as images and how they construct our reality.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I think you are probably right, and if Kielowski were asked if that was true, he would disavow it entirely (as directors often do).

[@fikriyathir567]

Thank you for this analysis! I really loved this movie too and yes it's a bit hard to analyze because it's a philosophical movie that's why I tried browsing through the internet and found your channel. Thanks, Sir!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

great, thank you very much.

[@suitingpie649]

i wish i could understand this movie, i know people that love it but i just cant

[@LearningaboutMovies]

that's okay and reasonable. no movie is for everyone; in fact, all movies are just for some. and, as always, it depends on age and experience, too.

[@suitingpie649]

yeah, but Stalker and 2001 are others "hard" movies and are my favorites, someday i will rewatch it

[@scottsheil8936]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your study of this film, red.

[@DJJellenak]

Could you do a review of The Double Life of Veronique? Tnx.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

absolutely. one of my favorites. will get to it within the year.

[@DJJellenak]

@@LearningaboutMovies Great movie. I am not sure what's the idea behind it but the emotions it awakens... I look forward to seeing that video :)

[@aymarafan7669]

Wonder if Ofra Haza watched these three films.

[@k.k8291]

Wow, such insightful commentary.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@izzmond3676]

You should do Sweet Smell of Success by Alexander Mackendrick

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. I'll put it on my list of requests.

[@JDP2104]

My friends love that movie

[@kcpvines8823]

Wow Great analysis,loved this movie

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@DennisShaffner]

The dog is the Fraternal rock... trust me

[@LearningaboutMovies]

at first I read that as Fraggle Rock.

[@mimicrybypravesh]

Irene Jacob was in US Marshals with Wesley Snipes.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

indeed!

[@garyhull6689]

You did a great job.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you

[@anantambisht4895]

Anyone who has seen this movie , I recommend them to watch magnolia (PTS)

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@ankitbiswas101]

Ah, yes. The frogs

[@Katkus.]

Am i the only person who thinks White is the best one?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

given the comments I get on all three movies, you are in the minority. But I like this opinion a lot: that movie is really good.

[@gerardo.galvan]

Least favorite from the trilogy but still good

[@Starkardur]

I am not a Huge fan of this film - It doesn't resonate that well with me emotionally however looking at it from a film making perspective - It's pretty much perect.

[@myahill7475]

This one was painfully boring… I had to skip to the great ending. Loved the ending. My favorite is blue.

[@pelarinbacosiii448]

0:03 Just remember how basketball's Coach K name is pronounced--it starts with the same Polish "Krz". In the US, "Krzyzewski" is usually rendered as "shih-ZHEF-skee." It's pretty close. I think you'd hear the hard K sound in the Polish pronunciation: "KSHIH-shtoff" is pretty close. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Pl-Krzysztof_Kie%C5%9Blowski.ogg