I just finished watching Trois couleurs: Bleu (known here by the short title Blue). I had picked it up on a whim with a free rental coupon offered to me by a local video store, and was quite pleasantly surprised. The film explores Liberty (it’s part of a trilogy of films on France’s national motto: “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”) through the life of a woman who has lost her child and husband in a car accident.
Visually, the film was excellent, blending simple images and striking colors in a very moving way. It was the focus on Juliette Binoche, specifically her face, that gave the film its greatest visual strength. Her expressions and manners were subtle, yet apparant enough to strike very effectively with the intended emotions.
The protagonist, Julie, and her husband were both composers (with the allusion that she wrote at least some of his work), and this was constantly highlighted in the score, which broke into Julie’s thoughts with haunting bursts. The symphony was intrical to the story, and tied the film together fluidly. It was especially effective in the closing scenes, with choral affirmations of the foremost importance of love. The score was of heightened impact due to the expert use of empty sound, which filled much of the film and mixed well with a sense of minimalism present throughout.
The film followed Julie as she sought freedom by leaving her former life behind and isolating herself in a life of doing little. Her innate generosity, compassion and need for companionship resurfaced and caused her to realize that her liberty would not be found in distance, but by forming and reforming friendships, affirming her compassion and returning to her art. The storytelling was rich and complex, with deep characters and wonderful symbolism, especially that which underlined Julie’s recent loss (i.e. children arriving to swim in the pool after Julie had released a cat to kill a mouse and its young).
Trois couleurs: Bleu is an excellent film, ranking among the finest I have ever seen. The richness of storytelling and the effortless feel of the narrative were unmatched in most films, and the acting prowess and presence of Juliette Binoche was truly remarkable. This is a film for art lovers.
Visually, the film was excellent, blending simple images and striking colors in a very moving way. It was the focus on Juliette Binoche, specifically her face, that gave the film its greatest visual strength. Her expressions and manners were subtle, yet apparant enough to strike very effectively with the intended emotions.
The protagonist, Julie, and her husband were both composers (with the allusion that she wrote at least some of his work), and this was constantly highlighted in the score, which broke into Julie’s thoughts with haunting bursts. The symphony was intrical to the story, and tied the film together fluidly. It was especially effective in the closing scenes, with choral affirmations of the foremost importance of love. The score was of heightened impact due to the expert use of empty sound, which filled much of the film and mixed well with a sense of minimalism present throughout.
The film followed Julie as she sought freedom by leaving her former life behind and isolating herself in a life of doing little. Her innate generosity, compassion and need for companionship resurfaced and caused her to realize that her liberty would not be found in distance, but by forming and reforming friendships, affirming her compassion and returning to her art. The storytelling was rich and complex, with deep characters and wonderful symbolism, especially that which underlined Julie’s recent loss (i.e. children arriving to swim in the pool after Julie had released a cat to kill a mouse and its young).
Trois couleurs: Bleu is an excellent film, ranking among the finest I have ever seen. The richness of storytelling and the effortless feel of the narrative were unmatched in most films, and the acting prowess and presence of Juliette Binoche was truly remarkable. This is a film for art lovers.