This boldly cinematic trio of stories about love and loss, from Krzysztof Kieślowski, was a defining event of the art-house boom of the 1990s. The films are named for the colors of the French flag and stand for the tenets of the French Revolution—liberty, equality, and fraternity—but that hardly begins to explain their enigmatic beauty and rich humanity. Set in Paris, Warsaw, and Geneva, and ranging from tragedy to comedy, Blue, White, and Red (Kieślowski’s final film) examine with artistic clarity a group of ambiguously interconnected people experiencing profound personal disruptions. Marked by intoxicating cinematography and stirring performances by Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Irène Jacob, and Jean-Louis Trintignant, Kieślowski’s Three Colors is a benchmark of contemporary cinema.
Three Colors: Blue (1993)
In the devastating first film of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy, Juliette Binoche gives a tour de force performance as Julie, a woman reeling from the tragic death of her husband and young daughter. But Blue is more than just a blistering study of grief; it’s also a tale of liberation, as Julie attempts to free herself from the past while confronting truths about the life of her late husband, a composer. Shot in sapphire tones by Sławomir Idziak, and set to an extraordinary operatic score by Zbigniew Preisner, Blue is an overwhelming sensory experience.
Three Colors: White (1994)
The most playful and also the grittiest of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors films follows the adventures of Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski), a Polish immigrant living in France. The hapless hairdresser opts to leave Paris for his native Warsaw when his wife (Julie Delpy) sues him for divorce (her reason: their marriage was never consummated) and then frames him for arson after setting her own salon ablaze. White, which goes on to chronicle Karol’s elaborate revenge plot, manages to be both a ticklish dark comedy about the economic inequalities of Eastern and Western Europe and a sublime reverie on twisted love.
Three Colors: Red (1994)
Krzysztof Kieślowski closes his Three Colors trilogy in grand fashion, with an incandescent meditation on fate and chance, starring Irène Jacob as a sweet-souled yet somber runway model in Geneva whose life dramatically intersects with that of a bitter retired judge, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant. Meanwhile, just down the street, a seemingly unrelated story of jealousy and betrayal unfolds. Red is an intimate look at forged connections and a splendid final statement from a remarkable filmmaker at the height of his powers.
For in-depth thoughts on Three Colors, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
The Criterion Collection presents Three Colors with a stunning 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer sourced from a 4K restoration of all three films undertaken by MK2 using the 35mm Original Camera Negatives. The restoration of Blue was supervised by Director of Photography Slawomir Idziak; the restoration of Red was supervised by cinematographers Piotr Sobociński Jr. and Michal Sobociński, sons of Director of Photography Piotr Sobociński; and an archival 35mm theatrical print was used as a color reference for White. The discs from the previous Criterion Blu-Ray release from over a decade ago are included on this set for those who want to see the leap in quality. There will be those who find issues with aspects of this set, but most should find this to be a magnificent upgrade.
In terms of sheer detail, this new release is a night-and-day difference which offers substantial improvements across the board. The level of texture and clarity within these films is miraculous with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. There are no signs that any grain reduction has been applied, as you get a fine sheen that resolves quite well without veering into swarmy noise. This is a major benefit of the 4K UHD presentation, as the Blu-Ray sometimes struggles with compression issues. The textures revealed in the environments, costumes and within the production design are even more tactile. There are so many discrete details that present with impressive clarity. With this new restoration, all minor moments of print damage are eradicated for a flawless viewing experience.
With these new 4K restorations, there are some segments of the audience who do not like the subtle shift in color grading applied, but most will agree that the look of the film has not been compromised in a negative way that betrays the intention of Kieslowski and his cinematographers. It could be argued that the previous Blu-Ray release was the presentation with slightly incorrect color-timing, but most feelings will boil down to what you are comfortable or familiar with when viewing these films. Those who give these restorations a shot will realize that the distinct use of color with each movie still applies and is realized without a hiccup.
The application of Dolby Vision is a wonder as it brings nuance and depth to the colors. The blues in Blue are still radiant and evoke the same emotional response as before. The same goes for the titular colors in the remainder of the films with whites appearing bold without blooming. Black levels are much improved with shadow detail being a particular feather in the cap of this entire presentation. Even if you happen to have an issue with the color grade of the new restorations, this set is worth upgrading for the simple fact that Three Colors: Blue was in the incorrect aspect ratio on Blu-Ray, and it has been restored to its former glory now. This transfer is a win for fans of the film and stands as the best representation on home video to date. It is simply a beauty.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray set comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track for each film which handles the material quite well, even if it is a bit strange that the DTS 2.0 stereo track was not included as an additional option. The musical compositions are used effectively to establish the mood of each story, and these audio tracks convey this without fail throughout the duration of the film. There is never a moment where it comes close to overwhelming competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly.
The narrative focuses heavily on the soundscape of the environment, particularly in Blue which often makes the living world feel like a beautiful symphony. The front channels are given the important dialogue, but there is a fairly broad soundscape which captures the considered sound design of the films with perfect fidelity. The environmental sounds are rendered well alongside everything else. The low end response is not particularly robust outside of musical cues, but it does provide some appreciated texture to the proceedings. There does not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. The Criterion Collection has given this film a grand audio experience.
Special Features
The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray set of Three Colors includes a 78-page bound booklet featuring essays by film critics Colin MacCabe, Nick James, Stuart Klawans, and Georgina Evans; an excerpt from Kieślowski on Kieślowski; and reprinted interviews with cinematographers Idziak, Edward Kłosiński, and Piotr Sobociński. The on-disc special features are as follows:
Three Colors: Blue
- On Blue: A 21-minute video essay is provided here by film studies professor Annette Insdorf, author of Double Lives, Second Chances: The Cinema Krzysztof Kieslowski in which she first discusses Kieslowski’s overall approach to the trilogy, the themes throughout this trio of films, the cinematic language on display and more. Insdorf then delves more specifically into Blue such as its use of music, the sound design, the thematic ties to the color blue, the technical prowess of the editing and more.
- Kieślowski’s Cinema Lesson: An eight-minute interview with the director from 1994 in which he dissects the sugar cube scene in the cafe by focusing on the character moments, the emphasis on close-ups, the timing of certain shots and more.
- Juliette Binoche: A 25-minute selection of footage is provided from the film with audio commentary provided by Binoche recorded in 2004 in which she discusses working with Kieslowski, turning down Jurassic Park to work on this film, memories from the production, reflection on Kieslowski’s real-life funeral and much more.
- Zbigniew Preisner: A 22-minute conversation with the composer conducted in 2011 in which he discusses his work with Kieslowski on numerous films, how this collaboration differed from most directors, trying to evoke the themes of the picture through his music, the differences between the movies and more.
- Reflections On Blue: A nearly 18-minute program with film critic Geoff Andrew, actor Juliette Binoche, filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, cinematographer Slawomir Idziak, professor Annette Insdorf, and editor Jacques Witta in which they explore the themes being brought to the screen by Kieslowski, what “liberty” means in the context of the film, the emotional complexity of the main character, discoveries that arise from watching the film more than once and more.
- Kieślowski – The Early Years: A 15-minute featurette with film critic Geoff Andrew, filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, cinematographer Slawomir Idziak, professor Annette Insdorf, and actor Irene Jacob in which they discuss how the early life of Kieslowski informed him as a filmmaker and a storyteller, his early work in filmmaking and more.
- Two Student Films
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- The Tram: A nearly six-minute black-and-white silent film from 1966 is provided here which finds a young man chasing after a young woman who catches his eye on the train.
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- The Face: A six-minute black-and-white music-driven film from 1966 is provided here which showcases a young artist in an agitated and destructive state.
- Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Three Colors: White
- On White: A 21-minute video essay is provided here by film critic Tony Rayns who discusses how this film fits into the career of Kieslowski, how it comments on the political state of Poland, how this installment differs from the other two in the trilogy, the themes on display and more.
- Kieślowski’s Cinema Lesson: An 11-minute interview with the director from 1994 in which he dissects the opening scene by focusing on shot composition, the editing of the scene and more.
- Zamachowski and Delpy: An 18-minute discussion with Polish actor Zbigniew Zamachowski and French actor Julie Delpy from 2011 in which they discuss their experiences working with Kieslowski, their connection to the material in White, the tone of the film, finding moments during production, the directing style of Kieslowski and more.
- Krzysztof Piesiewicz: A nearly 22-minute conversation with the cowriter of the Three Colors trilogy and politician in which he discusses his relationship with Kieslowski, the themes he explores in his work, how the political landscape of Poland informed his work and more.
- The Making Of White: A 16-minute behind-the-scenes featurette which looks into the production of the film, the importance of the color scheme, the delicate balance between drama and comedy, the positives and negatives of shooting in Poland and much more with on-set footage throughout.
- Two Documentaries
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- Seven Women of Different Ages: A 16-minute documentary short from 1978 which gives you a look at a different ballerina representing each day of the week.
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- Talking Heads: A 15-minute documentary short from 1980 in which Kieslowski poses general life questions to a wide-array of different subjects.
- Trailer: A minute-and-a-half trailer is provided here.
Three Colors: Red
- On Red: A 22-minute video essay is provided here by film writer Dennis Lim in which he explores where Red fits into this trilogy, the themes explored in this story, the narrative thread between the three films, the chromatic scheme of the trilogy, the place of the divided self, how Kieslowski uses technology and more.
- Kieślowski’s Cinema Lesson: A nine-minute interview with the director from 1994 in which he dissects the scene in which the dog runs away by focusing on dramatic construction, shot composition, what it means for the story and more.
- Irène Jacob: A nearly 17-minute interview with the lead actress from 2011 in which she discusses the themes that interest Kieslowski, her experiences working with the director, working with Jean-Louis Trintignant, the importance of the Director of Photography, the nuances within the narrative and more.
- Marin Karmitz: An 11-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses some of the challenges of filming Red, sacrificing cost-effectiveness for artistry, working with Kieslowski, making sure the film was considered for the Academy Awards and more.
- Jacques Witta: A 13-minute interview with the editor in which he discusses some extraneous moments that were cut from the film, working with Kieslowski, and much more that gives you insight into the process.
- Behind The Scenes Of Red: A 24-minute collection of footage in which you get to see Kieslowski directing Red followed by a look at how the specific scene turned out.
- Kieślowski Cannes 1994: A 15-minute piece from the film’s premiere in which the performers discuss working with Kieslowski, the director announces his retirement and more.
- Krzysztof Kieślowski – I’m So-So…: A 56-minute documentary from 1995 is provided which takes a look at the career of Kieslowski through interviews with various figures along with the man himself. This provides a rewarding overview of a brilliant body of work which is a real joy to experience.
- Trailer: A minute-and-a-half trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Three Colors is one of the most profound cinematic experiences that a film fan can embark upon when they really want to open up their heart to what the artform can accomplish. Krzysztof Kieślowski created three films that would elevate any director to a higher level of greatness, but the fact that he made all three in such a short timespan is mind-boggling. Blue and Red battle out for the top spot on what is seemingly a daily basis, but even White holds a special place in our heart thanks to the unique topics and themes explored compared to the remainder of the trilogy. The emotional complexity in this trio of films hits you hard, and this is further compounded by top-tier performances from every member of the ensemble. You don’t get much better from filmmaking. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray set that offers a 5-star A/V presentation and some wonderful legacy special features. If you have not seen these films, be prepared to experience something truly special. Essential
The Criterion Collection edition of Three Colors is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.