Kieslowski, Krzysztof

Three Colors Trilogy (Blue / White / Red)

Even though one can view each segment of Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy on its own, it seems absurd to do so; why buy the slacks instead of the entire suit? Created by Kieslowski and his writing partner Krzysztof Piesiewicz for France's bicentennial, the titles--and the themes of the films--come from the three colors of the French flag representing liberty, equality, and fraternity. Blue examines liberation through the eyes of a woman (Juliette Binoche) who loses her husband and daughter in an auto accident, and solemnly starts anew. White is an ironic comedy about a befuddled Polish husband (Zbigniew Zamachowski) who takes an odd path of revenge against his ex-wife (Julie Delpy). A Swiss model (Irène Jacob) strikes up a friendship with a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who eavesdrops on his neighbors in Red. The trilogy is a snapshot of European life at a time of reconstruction after the Cold War, reflected through Kieslowski's moralist view of human nature and illumined by each title's palate color.

The DVD set has numerous extras spread throughout the three discs; the end result is a superior collection. Each disc has a short retrospective, culled together from new interviews with Kieslowski's crew, plus film critic Geoff Andrew, biographer Annette Insdorf (who also does the commentaries), and fellow Polish director Ageniska Holland. Producer Marin Karmitz also reminisces about the experience. There's an exceptional effort to show the magic of Kieslowski (who died two years after the trilogy) through a discussion of his various career phases, interviews with the three lead actresses, four student films, and archival materials including simple--and wonderful--glimpses of the director at work. Excellent insight is also provided by Dominique Rabourdin's filmed "cinema lessons" with Kieslowski. Without viewing any of his other films, this set illustrates the uniqueness of Kieslowski. --Doug Thomas

Miramax Home Entertainment is proud to present BLUE, WHITE and RED, the acclaimed films by director Krzysztof Kieslowski. Hailed by filmgoers as some of the most absorbing, engaging, well-crafted dramas in recent memory, the box set of BLUE, WHITE and RED Each DVD disc includes lengthy bonus features.

BLUE: Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," Best Supporting Actress, 1996) stars as a young woman left devastated by the unexpected death of her husband and child. She retreats into the world around her, but is soon reluctantly drawn into an ever-widening web of lies and passion as the dark, secret life of her husband begins to unravel.

WHITE: Sexy Julie Delpy ("Before Sunrise") stars in a mysterious tale of a man whose life disintegrates when his beautiful wife of six months deserts him. Forced to begin anew, he rebuilds his life, only to plan a dangerous scheme of vengeance against her. Winner of the Best Director Award at the Berlin Film Festival.

RED: Irene Jacob ("The Double Life of Veronique") stars as a young model whose chance meeting with an unusual stranger leads her down a path of intrigue and secrecy. As her knowledge of the man deepens, she discovers an astonishing link between his past and her destiny.

Blue (Three Colors Trilogy)

The first installment of the late Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy on Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, the three colors of the French flag. Blue is the most somber of the three, a movie dominated by feelings of grief. As the film begins, a car accident claims the life of a well-known composer. His wife, played by Juliette Binoche (Oscar winner for The English Patient), does not so much put the pieces of her life back together as start an entirely new existence. She moves to Paris, where she dissolves into a wordless life virtually without other people. Kieslowski attaches an almost subconscious significance to the color blue, but primarily he focuses on Binoche's luminous face, and the way her subtle shifts in emotion flicker and disappear. The picture may be more enigmatic than the follow-ups White and Red, but Binoche's quiet, heartbreaking presence becomes spellbinding; her performance won the best actress prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1993. --Robert Horton

Praised as one of the top films of the year by critics and audiences alike, this stylish and provocative mystery delivers captivating performances and stunning imagery! Academy Award(R)-winner Juliette Binoche (Best Supporting Actress, 1996, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, CHOCOLAT) is a young woman left devastated by the unexpected death of her husband and child. She retreats from the world around her, but is soon reluctantly drawn into an ever-widening web of lies and passion as the dark secret life of her husband begins to unravel. With each startling discovery and heart-stopping surprise, BLUE is sure to entertain you from beginning to end!

The Double Life of Veronique - Criterion Collection

Krzysztof Kieslowski's international breakthrough remains one of his most beloved films a ravishing mysterious rumination on identity love and human intuition. Irene Jacob is incandescent as both Weronika a Polish choir soprano and her double Veronique a French music teacher. Though unknown to each other the two women share an enigmatic purely emotional bond which Kieslowski details in gorgeous reflections colors and movements. Aided by Slawomir Idziak's shimmering cinematography and Zbigniew Preisner's haunting operatic score Kieslowski creates one of cinema's most purely metaphysical works; The Double Life of Veronique is an unforgettable symphony of feeling.Special Features:New restored high-definition digital transferAudio commentary by film scholar Annette InsdorfThree short documentary films by Kieslowski"Kieslowski - Dialogue" documentary with behind-the-scenes footage2005 documentary "1966 -- 1988: Kieslowski Polish Filmmaker"A 2005 interview with actress Irene JacobNew video interview with cinematographer Slawomir IdziakNew video interview with composer Zbigniew Preisner"The Musicians" (1958) a short film by Kieslowski's teacher Kazimierz KarabaszNew and improved English subtitle translationNew essays by Jonathan Romney Slavoj Zizek and Peter CowieSystem Requirements:Running Time: 97 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 715515020725 Manufacturer No: CC1657DDVD

Red (Three Colors Trilogy)

The final section of the late Krzysztof Kieslowski's acclaimed Three Colors trilogy (preceded by Blue and White) is the least likely of the three to stand alone, and indeed benefits from a little familiarity with the first two parts. Nevertheless, it's a strong, unique piece that reflects upon the ubiquity of images in the modern world and the parallel subjugation of meaningful communication. Irene Jacob plays a fashion model whose lovely face is hugely enlarged on a red banner no one in Geneva can possibly miss seeing. Striking up a relationship with an embittered former judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who secretly scans his neighbors' conversations through electronic surveillance, Jacob's character becomes an aural witness to the secret lives of those we think we know. Kieslowski cleverly wraps up the trilogy with a device that brings together the principals of all three films. --Tom Keogh

Praised by critics nationwide as one of the year's 10 best films, RED is a seductive story of forbidden love -- and the unknowable mystery of coincidence. The final chapter in Krzystof Kieslowski's acclaimed "Three Colors" triology, RED stars sexy Irene Jacob (THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE) as a young model whose chance meeting with an unusual stranger leads her down a path of intrigue and secrecy. As her knowledge of the man deepens, she discovers an astonishing link between his past ... and her destiny! Academy Award(R)-nominated for writing, direction, and cinematography, RED is Kieslowski's crowning achievement -- a fascinating mystery sure to dazzle and entertain!

The Double Life of Veronique

Two women...complete strangers but strangely linked to each other... Renowned director Krzysztof Kieslowski (Three Colors: Red White and Blue) confirmed his reputation as one of cinema's visionary filmmakers with this beautifully poetic elegantly mysterious film that ponders the nature of intuition and the metaphysical connections between people. Irene Jacob lights up the screen as both Veronika a deeply spiritual Polish soprano and her double Veronique a more earthy French music teacher. Each senses the other and is affected by each other's experiences though they have no idea of the other's existence. Aided by a haunting operatic score The Double Life of Veronique is a mesmerizing masterpiece of filmmaking. System Requirements:Running Time: 97 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN/FRENCH Rating: R UPC: 014381314021 Manufacturer No: HVE3140DVD

White (Three Colors Trilogy)

White is the second of witty Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowki's "three colors" trilogy Blue, White, and Red--the three colors of the French flag, symbolizing liberty, equality, and fraternity. White is an ironic comedy brimming over with the hard laughs of despair, ecstasy, ambition, and longing played in a minor key.

Down-and-out Polish immigrant Karol Karol is desperate to get out of France. He's obsessed with his French soon-to-be ex-wife (Before Sunrise's Julie Delpy), his French bank account is frozen, and he's fed up with the inequality of it all. Penniless, he convinces a fellow Pole to smuggle him home in a suitcase--which then gets stolen from the airport. The unhappy thieves beat him and dump him in a snowy rock pit. Things can only get better, right? The story evolves into a wickedly funny antiromance, an inverse Romeo and Juliet. Because it's in two foreign languages, the dialogue can be occasionally hard to follow, but some of the most genuinely funny and touching moments need no verbal explanation. --Grant Balfour

A seductive story of love and obsession, WHITE won nationwide critical acclaim for its intoxicating blend of eroticism and intrigue. Directed by acclaimed director Krzysztof Kieslowski (BLUE, RED, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE), and featuring sexy Julie Delpy (TV's ER, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN PARIS), WHITE is the mysterious tale of a man whose life disintegrates when his beautiful wife of six months deserts him. Forced to begin anew, he rebuilds his life, only to plan a dangerous scheme of vengeance against her! Winner of the Best Director Award at the Berlin Film Festival, WHITE is a story of dark, illicit passions -- one of the year's most provocative big-screen releases!

The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection (A Short Film About Love/Blind Chance/Camera Buff/No End/The Scar/A Short Film About Killing)

A Short Film About Killing

A Short Film About Love

Blind Chance