Article Author: 江江_Jan
Article Link: https://blog.jannns.com/posts/Kieslowski-and-his-reality/
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Preface#
Krzysztof Kieślowski (hereinafter referred to as Kieślowski), a famous Polish director in the 20th century, is regarded by many critics as the pinnacle of film history with his work "Three Colors Trilogy" (also known as the Three Colors series).
Compared to being defined as a filmmaker, Kieślowski himself is more like a philosopher and a fighter. He is rooted in real life and is adept at expressing his perception of the world in a calm and objective manner. He is enthusiastic about revealing the cruel nature of life and the dark side of human nature, and is willing to stand up for "freedom of expression" and resist the outside world.
My perception of Kieślowski's works is objective and calm (even a bit indifferent). His narratives seem to be devoid of any emotional color, but upon reflection, one can feel his love for life.
Kieślowski's films do not have a binary sense of right and wrong. A brutal murderer can be a helpless young man who has silently endured the death of his sister for years ("A Short Film About Killing"); an authoritative physics professor can sacrifice his own young son because of his belief in science ("The Decalogue: The First Commandment"); a young man can die because of the collapse of his spiritual love ("A Short Film About Love"); whether two people who have loved each other for many years can be together despite being proven to be unrelated by blood ("The Decalogue: Honor Your Father and Mother")... When faced with real life dilemmas, I believe that Kieślowski's films are closer to the essence of life than some stereotypical choices, and perhaps they represent the essence of life that I personally identify with.
In short, his films are quite interesting, and there is a lot to explore. I have recently been obsessed with them and can't extricate myself.
Kieślowski's Words#
The first time I watched Kieślowski's films was "Three Colors Trilogy," recommended by my philosophy teacher four years ago. After watching it, I felt like I had lost my sense of values. Why did the female protagonist destroy her husband's work but still couldn't forget about it? How could she treat the person who had silently loved her for so many years so poorly? Why was she so kind to the person who destroyed her marriage?... After being bombarded with these soul-searching questions, I silently told myself not to watch European films anymore, as they were beyond my understanding, especially when it came to emotions, I couldn't keep up with the Western way of thinking. (Of course, the flag of "not watching European films" was later contradicted by other excellent films.)
Perhaps due to the narrative style or cultural background, European films lack a strong sense of drama (unlike the feeling of being inspired after watching blockbuster American films). They are keen on depicting small, everyday things, whether good or bad, objectively presenting them to you. Sometimes, it even feels like the moral boundaries in these films are blurred (the film "Baisers volés" gave me a headache), but upon reflection, these films may be dramatic in their expression, but they are very true in their portrayal of emotions, whether they are certain, uncertain, decisive, or hesitant... They tell us that life is inherently cruel, but they also remind us that there are many small beauties in life that cannot be ignored, and they are worth our anticipation and care.
Kieślowski is enthusiastic about revealing the cruel truth of life and the dark side of human nature. (Perhaps this is also the reason why his films are so appealing to me; I like authenticity.) His early works were documentaries, striving to reflect the real social life. Later, due to some social reasons and his disappointment with the documentary form of expression, he began to make feature films.
He lived in a turbulent era, and people yearned for true freedom.
He voiced his opinions in his own way and resisted external forces. When asked by a friend why he didn't become a politician to change the environment, he simply expressed that it was not suitable for him, and he was doing what he should be doing.
If you are interested in his views, you can watch the documentary "Kieślowski's Words" on Bilibili.
I agree more with his view of human nature.
Once a certain characteristic takes root in people's hearts, it is difficult to change. There is no definitive answer to the question of whether human nature is inherently good or evil, and it is unclear where this "nature" should be traced back to. However, in terms of the future, the present is what matters. I tend to believe in the ancient saying "Time reveals a person's true nature." Human nature cannot withstand the test of time.
This is a digression.
I suddenly thought of the concept of "original family" that was widely circulated online a couple of years ago. It seems that all our character flaws can be attributed to problems in the original family. This concept resonated with many people, and they could blame the harm caused by their original family with righteousness, so they couldn't solve problems well when faced with certain issues. However, this blaming behavior is just a meaningless negative emotional release, which is of no benefit to oneself or the family.
I do not deny that the original family can have an impact on a person. In "Wild Strawberries," it explores the emotional alienation that lasts for three generations, and in "Shoplifters," it portrays the reserved nature of a typical Eastern family... Individuals are influenced by major events, not to mention the family they grow up in. But I think the concept of the original family is not meant to create family conflicts or to find excuses for one's own problems, but to provide individuals with more material (such as family interaction patterns) to find solutions to their problems.
The following content contains a large number of spoilers and analysis. Please read with caution.
Image sources are from Douban or self-captured.
Synopsis of the Blue Story in the Three Colors Trilogy#
Julie loses her husband and young daughter in an accident and chooses to start a new life to escape the painful memories. She empties her old home, cuts off contact with people from her past, but emotional attachments are never as simple to sever as material ties. The media infiltrates her life, wanting her to continue her husband's unfinished work. The assistant to her husband has always loved him and silently cares for her. Most importantly, the symphony they composed together keeps echoing in her mind... An unexpected TV interview reveals that this piece of music is related to another woman, and she also discovers that she has her husband's flesh and blood...
In line with the symphony that runs throughout the entire film, the story can also be divided into four movements.
First Movement#
Often presented in the form of a sonata or allegro. It often alternates between two conflicting themes and highlights the primary theme at the end.
The film begins with a scene of driving. Kieślowski uses the family's tacit interaction, the little girl playing with candy wrappers, and passersby playing on the street to depict the ordinary day and harmonious atmosphere of this family.
Suddenly, the car mysteriously crashes into a tree.
Second Movement#
A triple trilogy or variation, in a slow tempo.
The protagonist Julie is separated from her husband and daughter due to the accident. Unable to commit suicide, she begins a long process of adaptation.
Julie sells off the belongings in her home, settles the lives of the gardener and housekeeper, bids farewell to the assistant who has always had feelings for her in a determined manner, and moves into an apartment in the city, trying to erase all traces of her past life.
However, discomfort surrounds her like water without any gaps. The habits of her past life, the symphony they composed together, the request from the country for her to continue writing the symphony... People's interactions always forcefully pull her back into life.
Third Movement#
Scherzo or burlesque, in a moderate or fast tempo.
Julie doesn't want to be connected to the world around her, but she can't control others. After inexplicably establishing a connection with a prostitute living in the same building, her peaceful life is gradually disrupted. An accidental TV program she sees completely forces Julie back into reality. The assistant accepts a national commission to continue writing the symphony that she had destroyed; her husband had another woman in his life. The memories that she had carefully sealed suddenly explode. She confronts the assistant and questions why he has the right to continue writing this symphony; she goes to see her husband's lover, but can only "calmly" accept the fact that the woman already has her husband's flesh and blood... (The female protagonist's performance in this scene is truly brilliant)
Julie reexamines her life and emotions. She gives the property she was planning to sell to her husband's lover as a gift; she resumes composing and writes the melody that has been lingering in her mind...
Fourth Movement#
Finale. Usually in a fast tempo, often using rondo or recapitulation form. It echoes the main theme.
The end of the film is the climax of the entire play, reviewing Julie's experiences like a carousel. The boy wearing a cross suddenly wakes up, the forever silent mother who lingers in the past, the contemplation of the prostitute living a chaotic life, and the smile of the lover towards the newborn... Accompanied by the final composition, the film reviews Julie's life experiences.
The director's arrangement is truly ingenious, with each element tightly connected. The blue tone and the symphony running throughout the film not only create an atmosphere but also express the suppressed emotions behind Julie's silence...
Afterword#
I originally wanted to write about the entire Three Colors Trilogy, but after watching "Blue" several times, I feel that I need time to digest it. Kieślowski's films are worth watching repeatedly, and different stages of life may lead to different perspectives.
One person's knowledge is limited, so if there are any omissions, please feel free to criticize and correct.