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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

( aka 'Three Colours: Red or 'Red' or 'Three Colors: Red' or 'Trzy kolory: Czerwony' )

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/kieslowski.htm
France 1994

Krzysztof Kieślowski closes his Three Colors trilogy in grand fashion, with an incandescent meditation on fate and chance, starring Irčne Jacob as a sweet-souled yet somber runway model in Geneva whose life dramatically intersects with that of a bitter retired judge, played by Jean‑Louis Trintignant. Meanwhile, just down the street, a seemingly unrelated story of jealousy and betrayal unfolds. Red is an intimate look at forged connections and a splendid final statement from a remarkable filmmaker at the height of his powers.

***

A beautifully woven tale of chance encounters and relationships, Red is Kieslowski's best, and possibly final, film. Red is an altogether darker colour than blue and white and this is reflected in the film. Rich and complex in both tone and emotion, Red defies the usual conventions of associating the colour with blood, danger and evil (in most films, red is used to represent evil, blue is good and white is for innocence) and instead uses it to signify optimism, frustration and FRATERNITE.

Irene Jacob gives a splendid performance as Valentine, a young model who meets a former judge (Jean-Loius Trintignant) and together grow closer. They explore the boundaries of their relationship and rekindle qualities in each other that had been forgotten or neglected. Their influence on Valentine's neighbour, a judge to be, and his girlfriend parallels the implications of extending a fraternal hand to those in need.

As with the rest of the trilogy, Kieslowski's use of locations is truly masterful lending the streets of Geneva a serene beauty. Innovative camera work allows the film to almost hypnotize the viewer, drawing them into the world of the characters and evoking an empathy with them and their destinies.

Excerpt of review by Neil Chue Hong at Edinburgh U Film Society located HERE

Posters (Click right poster to enlarge)

Reviews           More Reviews            DVD Reviews - R2           DVD Reviews - R0

The Criterion editions - only available in their Kieslowski - Three Colors Blu-ray set

Comparison:

Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL LEFT 

2) Buena Vista Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers

 

 

The Criterion edition is only available in their Kieslowski - Three Colors Blu-ray set - not individually.

Can also be purchased in the Tri-Colors Boxsets

 

Distribution Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL (ART085DVD)

MiraMax  - Region 1  NTSC

North America

Criterion Collection - Spine #  590

Region 'A' -  Blu-ray

Runtime 1:35:06  (PAL Speed-up)

1:39:12

1:39:34.385
Video 1.85:1.00 Letterboxed WideScreen / anamorphic
Average Bitrate: 5.31 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
1.85:1.00 Letterboxed WideScreen / anamorphic
Average Bitrate:4.65 mb/s
NTSC 960x540 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,612,308,951 bytes

Feature: 23,745,798,144 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 28.12 Mbps

Bitrate: Artificial Eye 

Bitrate: Buena Vista 

Bitrate: Blu-ray 

Audio French (Dolby Digital 2.0) 

French (Dolby Digital 2.0) 

DTS-HD Master Audio French 2038 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2038 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English, None (removable): English and English for the hearing impaired English, None
Features

Aspect Ratio(s):
Widescreen letterbox - 1.85:1 anamorphic

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 2 - PAL
Layers: Dual 

 

Edition Details:
Krzysztof Kieslowski - masterclass. feature, where the director takes us through a single scene from the film.

• Irene Jacob - six chapters,  
• Jacques Witta - three chapters, 
  
• Marin Karmitz - four chapters, 
 
• Kieslowski, Cannes 1994 Press Interview 
'• The Making of ' Featurette - seven chapters,
 

• Excerpts from the original soundtrack.Three pieces of medium length from Zbigniew Preisner’s superb score, presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. This is a particularly welcome extra as we tend only to hear snatches of the soundtrack throughout the film.

• Theatrical trailers for Blue, White and Red. These are presented non-anamorphically at 1.85:1.

NOTE: ENGLISH SUBTITLES on all extras features!

DVD Release Date: October 29th, 2001
Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 28

Aspect Ratio(s):
1.85:1.00 Letterboxed WideScreen / anamorphic

Discographic Information:
• Region 1 encoding - U.S and Cana

Extras

Documentary - 'Insights into Trois Coleurs: Rouge' - None anamorphic Widescreen - 20:22

Interview: 'A Conversation With Irene Jacob on Kieslowski' - 4:3 - 10:26

Kieslowski's Cinema lesson - Non-anamorphic widescreen - French and English Subs - 8:34

'Marin Karmitz Interview with selected scenes commentary'- 4 Cpaters- Widescreen anamorphic - 11:00

Audio Commentary by Annette Insdorf

Sneak Peek Trailers
• White - Pan and scan - narration in English - 1:02
• Blue - Pan and scan - narration in English - :36
• K's Heaven - Pan and Scan - narration in English - :5

DVD Release Date: March 4, 2003
Keep Case inside a Box Set
Chapters: 17

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion
 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,267,832,073 bytes

Feature: 23,939,444,736 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 25.99 Mbps



Edition Details:

Cinema lesson with director Krzysztof Kieślowski (8:41 in 1080i)
• New video essay by film writer Dennis Lim (22:01 in 1080P)
• New interview with actor Irčne Jacob (16:26 in 1080P), plus interviews with producer Marin Karmitz (10:50 in 1080i) and editor Jacques Witta (12:46 in 1080i)
• Behind-the-scenes footage (23:30 in 1080i)
• Short documentary on the film's world premiere at Cannes (15:11 in 1080i)
• Krzysztof Kieślowski: I'm So-So . . . , a 1995 feature-length documentary in which Kieślowski discusses his life and work (55:36 in 1080i)
• Original theatrical trailer (1:38 in 1080P)

 

Blu-ray Boxset Release Date: November 15th, 2011
Custom
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 17

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - (October 2011) - The Criterion seems a perfect balance between the dull Artificial Eye and the boosted Buena Vista release. It has more detail, pristine contrast and, predictably - as the other two in the 1080P-transfered trilogy from Criterion, a lot of film grain. Light is such an important part of Red and the DVDs always seem to struggle with the correct levels - now making the Criterion Blu-ray appear all that much superior. The grain is thick and consistent - supporting a very film-like rendition of the Red.

True-to-form Criterion don't deviate from the original source - or try superficial surround bumps - this is a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 2038 kbps. Zbigniew Preisner's brilliant score smacks of hollow isolation. It sounds magnificent in lossless. Again this is a notable improvement over the SD audio renderings. Criterion include optional English subtitles.

In the supplements department the Criterion has most of the value of the two DVDs (minus the Insdorf commentary) and some, new, added extras as well. We get another Cinema lesson with director Krzysztof Kieślowski (8:41 in 1080i) which is the final editing scene where Rita the dog runs away - described as "...the first critical moment of the film". We get a new interview with actor Irčne Jacob (16:26 in 1080P) where she discusses her experiences working with director Krzysztof Kieślowski (she also appears in the Double Life of Veronique) and talks about her co-star Jean-Louis Trintignant's tightly choreographed performance in Red. Also included is the 2001 interview with producer of the Three Colors Trilogy, Marin Karmitz (10:50 in 1080i) as he recalls the making of Red and the insistence in Hollywood that the film be considered for the Academy awards. There is also time spent with editor Jacques Witta (12:46 in 1080i) who reveals why certain scenes (and parts of shots) were eventually removed and shares anecdotes about director Krzysztof Kieślowski's process in the editing room. There is the previously seen Behind-the-scenes footage (23:30 in 1080i) which juxtaposes footage of Kieślowski directing Red with corresponding scenes as they appear in the film. There is a short documentary on the film's world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival (15:11 in 1080i) which includes interviews with the director and actors Jacob and Trintignant as well as Kieslowski announcing his retirement from filmmaking. We are treated to a new video essay by film writer Dennis Lim (22:01 in 1080P) and the 19995 film Krzysztof Kieślowski: I'm So-So ... , a feature-length documentary in which Kieślowski reflects on his life and work (55:36 in 1080i). Originally broadcast on Danish television, I'm So-So... was completed less than 1/2 a year before Kieslowski's untimely death at the age of fifty-five. There is also an HD theatrical trailer and the booklet accompanying the package.

Kieslowski's trilogy is surely one of the heights of film - if only the very best cinema produced in entire 90's. This Blu-ray package will probably be my number 1 choice at our year-end poll. I know many are so thankful that Criterion took the reigns in putting the trilogy to disc - and we can rejoice further with their expert set of deft a/v and extensive supplements. Our highest recommendation! Do NOT hesitate.   

***

ON THE DVDs: The Buena Vista release has some boosting. I always felt the Artificial Eye Red version had the poorest quality of the 3 R2 versions and it really shows here as being dull and flat. The R1 has the perception of vibrancy with the obvious edge enhancement... the extras (because of the commentary), the menu's... and especially the much sharper image quality.  

Gary W. Tooze

Note: R2 - Although the case states that the film has a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, it is in fact 2.0 unlike Blue which was 5.0, stating it was 5.1.


Recommended Reading in French Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

The Films in My Life
by Francois Truffaut, Leonard Mayhew

French Cinema: A Student's Guide
by Philip Powrie, Keith Reader
Agnes Varda by Alison Smith Godard on Godard : Critical Writings by Jean-Luc Godard Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No. 2)
by James Quandt
The Art of Cinema by Jean Cocteau French New Wave
by Jean Douchet, Robert Bonnono, Cedric Anger, Robert Bononno
French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present
by Remi Fournier Lanzoni

Check out more in "The Library"


DVD Menu
(Artificial Eye Region 2 -PAL -TOP, Buena Vista Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Subtitle Sample

 

 

1) Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL TOP 

2) Buena Vista Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM


1) Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL TOP 

2) Buena Vista Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM


1) Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL TOP 

2) Buena Vista Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM


1) Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL TOP 

2) Buena Vista Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

More Blu-ray Captures

Box Covers

 

 

The Criterion edition is only available in their Kieslowski - Three Colors Blu-ray set - not individually.

Can also be purchased in the Tri-Colors Boxsets

 

Distribution Artificial Eye Region 2 - PAL (ART085DVD)

MiraMax  - Region 1  NTSC

North America

Criterion Collection - Spine #  590

Region 'A' -  Blu-ray


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Report Card:

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: Blu-ray



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Gary Tooze