Average Rating: 
Rating: - The Final Gift
This review refers to the Three Colors Trilogy(Boxed Set) DVD edition by Miramax.....To give this trilogy 5 stars hardly begins to express the way I feel about this trilogy. The illustrious career of masterful film maker Krzystof Kieslowski is capped off by this wonderful gift he has left us with. Those of you that have seen it will understand what I mean when I say that once you have viewed these films, and the characters in them,they will stay with you always. Although told as three separate stories "Blue", "White" and "Red" (the order in which they should be watched ), you will find a connection of life and happenstance relating to the main characters of each story. It should be viewed as one long story. Think of it as if going to a fine dining establishment, where the chef has prepared each course to compliment the other. In "Blue", we get lost in Julie's world(Julitte Binoche), a woman who has lost all that is dear to her in a horrible car accident. Her husband, an acclaimed composer and her little daughter gone forever. She tries to shut herself off from the world, shedding material possesions and shunnung her friends, but is drawn back into life by some revealing facts she has learned about her dead husband. "White" will draw you into it's web of intigue and passion, as a Polish man(Zbigniew Zamachowski) plans the ultimate revenge on his beautiful French wife(Julie Delpy)that he has lost but still loves. "Red" is the story of chance meetings and fate. Do they happen by coincidence or do we unwittingly make our own destinies? Valentine (Irene Jacob) is a beautiful young model who's life takes a turn in a new direction when she accidentally hits a dog with her car. The dog belongs to a mysterious older man, whose past may be the answer to her future. I have only given a short synopsis of each story, as they must be viewed fresh by the first time watcher. You will find them an experience you will want to relive soon and often. Kieslowski's unique film making style combined with the intricate camera work of Piotr Sobocinski, the lulling music of Zbigniew Preisner, beautiful screenplays by Kieslowski and Piesiewicz and a cast that turns in no less than stellar performances will move you like no other film ever has. I used to watch these films, whenever they appeared on my cable Independent Film Channel. The DVDs sold singley seemed a little high priced, but now that they are in this boxed set at such a reasonable price, I jumped at the chance to own them. The discs are excellent. Terrific picture, colors and sound. They are presented in Widescrren and are in Dolby Digital Surround Sound. The subtitles are clear and distinct as well.
Each disc has a wide variety of bonus material of it's own to check out(see tech info for complete list), but I highly reccommend viewing these films on their own first, and then again with the insightful commentary by Annette Insdorf. I can think of only one other film that has had such a personal effect on me. That is "Schindler's List". If you have already seen these films, this boxed set is well worth the price. If you have not seen them and you really enjoy fine film making give these a try. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have. Thanx....Laurie
Rating: - Three of the greatest films ever made finally on US DVD
It is absolutely shocking that it has taken so long for this trilogy of masterpieces to reach DVD. These are, without a doubt, my favorite films of the 1990s. The late Kieslowski was working at the top of his game and his presence in filmmaking is sorely missed. Blue and Red are my favorites out of the three, with Juliette Binoche illuminating every scene. Red (which is set in Geneva and not Paris as the amazon review incorrectly states)is a brilliant way to wrap the trilogy. Irene Jacob sparring with the great Jean Louis Tritignant in their lovely and heartbreaking scenes. There are so many wonderful moments, including the final moment when Jacob's face on the giant billboard becomes a haunting coda that will reduce you to tears...simply because it is shear genius on Kieslowski's part. Like his contemporary Wim Wenders, Kieslowski marched to the beat of his own drum and gave the world beautiful, if not always easy, films to cherish.
Rating: - One of the greatest cinematic experiences of the 1990s
The Three Colors Trilogy comprises 3 superb films (Bleu/Blanc/Rouge) by the late, great director Krzysztof Kieslowski. The films use the symbolism expressed by the colors of the French flag for their themes (liberty, equality, fraternity). The Three Colors is Kieslowski's crowning achievement, and Rouge, his final film, is probably his masterpiece. That's saying something, because some of his previous films (Decalogue, The Double Life of Veronique) are among the greatest films of the last 20 years! I saw Bleu (with Juliette Binoche) a long time ago and was very impressed. It's a sad but beautful movie, about a composer's widow and how she copes with life after his death. Blanc (with Julie Delpy) is about life for a man after he is unceremoniously dumped by his wife; it's the lightest and most comedic of the three films. Rouge (with Irene Jacob) is my favorite and explores the melancholy (and platonic) relationship that develops between a young lady and an older man. Jacob is quite simply a goddess, and if you can tear your eyes away from her long enough to pay attention to the movie, you'll find this is a thematically rich film with solid, subtle performances (Kieslowski was nominated for a Best Director Oscar for Rouge in 1995). I am lucky enough to own a DVD of Rouge which has a ton of extras (making of, deleted scenes, soundtrack samples, trailers, film-making lesson by the director, Cannes festival interviews, extended interviews with editor, director, and *sigh* Irene Jacob). I believe the upcoming Miramax DVDs retain these features (with subtitles), which are in French. More Americans should experience these films. They are so well-made and lovingly crafted that they put to shame all the multi-million dollar, shallow, explosion-fests routinely shovelled out by Hollywood nowadays. Next to Stanley Kubrick and Akira Kurosawa, Krzysztof Kieslowski's death in the 1990s is one of the most tragic for cinema. Younger filmmakers should hope one day to approach even an iota of the MANY brilliant masterpieces created of these film masters. Watch The Three Colors Trilogy! This is film-making at its finest and totally a 5 STAR recommendation!
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