BUY TICKETS HERE
Join us at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 23, for director Krzysztof Kieślowski’s incandescent meditation on fate and chance, about a sweet-souled yet somber runway model in Geneva whose life dramatically intersects with that of a bitter retired judge,
THREE COLORS: RED | 1994 | DIRECTOR:Krzysztof Kieślowski | WITH: Irene Jacob, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Frederique Feder, Jean-Pierre Lorit | RUNNING TIME: 1H 39M | IN FRENCH with English subtitles | RATED R for a brief but strong sex scene | PROJECTED IN 4K
The final installment in Kieślowski’s colors trilogy (after “Blue” and “White,” named for the colors of the French flag), “Red” tells the story of young model and student Valentine (Irène Jacob), who hits a dog with her car and thus begins a strange relationship with its owner, retired judge Joseph Kern (Jean-Louis Trintignant), does not offer a straightforwardly heartwarming vision of humanity, nor does it clearly preach the socialist politics we may naturally associate with the titular color. “Red ultimately culminates with a note of tentative optimism, not just for the protagonists of this film but for those of the entire trilogy.
“One day Valentine’s car strikes a dog, and she takes it to the home of its owner, a retired judge. He hardly seems to care for the dog, or for her. He spends his days in an elaborate spying scheme, using wiretaps to monitor an affair being carried on by a neighbor. There is an instant spark that strikes between the old man and the young woman – a contact, a recognition of similarity, or sympathy – but they are 40 years apart in age, strangers to one another, and have met by accident, and . . .
“The story becomes completely fascinating. We have no idea where it is going, where it could possibly go. There is no plot to reassure us. No goal that the characters hope to attain. Will the young woman and the judge ever meet again? What will come of that? Does it matter? Would it be good, or bad? Such questions, in “Red,” become infinitely more interesting than the questions in simple-minded commercial movies, about whether the hero will kill the bad guys, and drive his car fast, and blow things up, or whether his girlfriend will take off her clothes.
“Seeing a movie like “Red,” we are reminded that watching many commercial films is the cinematic equivalent of reading Dick and Jane. The mysteries of everyday life are so much deeper and more exciting than the contrivances of plots.” — Roger Ebert
Tickets are $6 (including service charge) and available at link above. Students use code UMSTUDENT at checkout for free admission (must show Cane card at the door).
