149. Three Colours Red (Trois couleurs: Rouge); movie review

 

THREE COLOURS: RED (TROIS COULEURS - ROUGE)

Cert 15

99 mins

BBFC advice: Contains brief strong sex

Opinions differ wildly over which is best of Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colours trilogy but I am plumping for Red.

This is the most mysterious, most alluring, best written and, ultimately, in my opinion, most satisfying.

But it is certainly not straightforward and requires the concentration of an avid movie fan to squeeze out maximum enjoyment.

Red represents fraternity in the French tricolour although, in common with its sister films, the link isn't obvious.

Anyway, it stars Irène Marie Jacob as a catwalk model besotted with a lover who seems to be messing her around.

She is also worried about her adopted brother who appears to have turned to drugs.

Meanwhile, she becomes transfixed by a much older, rather strange, plain-speaking retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant).

He has a hobby which initially appals her but, much to her own surprise, creates a deep fascination.

In parallel, there is a focus on her near-neighbour who is a new judge and how he strives to combine work with giving time to a supportive girlfriend.

None of the stories adds up to a hill of beans but, laid against each other, they work neatly.

I found Jacob magnetic - her beauty, combined with her character's inquiring mind, is intoxicating but Trintignant steals the show, playing the ex-judge with frothing anger.

However, the day is really won by a storyline which has plenty of surprises and doesn't rely on lots of noise.

Reasons to watch: Intriguing and satisfying

Reasons to avoid: Low on action

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Bare bum

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disqualified the film from competing as Switzerland's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film but Switzerland rejected the Academy's offer to submit another film.

The final word. Krzysztof Kieślowski: "Idon’t have any answers but do know how to pose questions, it suits me to leave the door open to varying possibilities. I realised this some years ago. I don’t want to pose as a relativist, because I’m not one, but I have to admit that there’s an element of relativism in play here." BFI

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