THREE COLORS: BLUE
A film review by Chad Polenz
Copyright 1997 Chad Polenz
*** 1994, R, 98 minutes [1 hour, 38 minutes] [drama] starring: Juliette Binoche (Julie), Benoit Regent (Olivier), Charlotte Very (Lucille), Phillippe Volter (Realtor), produced by Marin Karmitz, written by Krzystof Kieslowski, Krzystof Piesiewicz, directed by Krzystof Kieslowski.
If you ever wondered what it would be like to be invisible, "Blue" will give you the feeling you are. It is a film where all we do is follow a woman around, get to know her, and see what an interesting life she leads. We hardly ever get stories told like this, and although this can become rather strange at times, it is still original, realistic, and enjoyable.
We meet a woman named Julie (Binoche), who finds herself unable to cope with the death of her husband and daughter who died in a car accident she was also involved in. The accident itself opens up the story, but it is portrayed in somewhat of a strange manner. At first Julie tries to commit suicide, but can't bring herself to do it. Is she afraid of death or does she really want to live?
Slowly, things start to return to normal in her life. She doesn't want anything around her that will remind her of her family, so she sells her house and all of her possessions and moves from the country to the city.
Kieslowski's film tends to have a rather strange tone, both in the way the story is told, but also in the way it is presented, that is, not exactly in a straightforward manner. At times this can become confusing, but nevertheless it makes the story more intriguing and interesting.
Julie has some kind of an affair with her husband's friend Olivier (Regent), but she doesn't seem to enjoy it much. It's as if she can't feel anything anymore. This sense of emptiness can be felt throughout the film, as there is no real plot to it, just some strangely connected events in Julie's life; swimming, dining, talking with her neighbors, etc.
Some small things occur to build up her character, but it seems more like an excuse to follow show how seemingly normal people can live unusual lives. For example, her neighbor Lucille (Very), is a prostitute of sorts, whom she saves her from being evicted because she won't sign a petition to have her removed. She does this not so much to defend Lucille, but rather just to spite everyone and stay out of controversy.
Julie's husband was a famous French composer whose music would supposedly unite Europe, but when she gets a copy of his unfinished symphony she throws it away until she learns Olivier tried to finish it. This is an example of powerful symbolism: is it because of her own honor and/or selfishness she would threaten something that could bring peace between nations? Or is it love and respect for her husband, that only he could finish the piece?
Not much happens in "Blue" but it is still a good movie to watch just to observe how normal people really are.
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