Three Colors 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of the "Three Colors" trilogy offers an outstanding visual enhancement over previous releases, showcasing films in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The new 4K restorations, executed by MK2 from the original 35mm camera negatives, employ Dolby Vision HDR for superior color fidelity and contrast. This presentation maintains the trilogy's artistic essence with meticulous attention to the film grain, vibrant color palettes, and fine details. Minor imperfections like scratches or dirt are almost nonexistent, positioning this release as potentially the best version available for home video enthusiasts.

Each film utilizes HEVC 2160p encoding, with distinct HDR characteristics: Blue features HDR10 metadata with a MaxLL of 298 nits, and Red and White offer higher MaxLL values at 341 nits and 1164 nits, respectively. Comparisons to Criterion's 2011 Blu-rays reveal a pronounced improvement in detail and granularity. While the "Red" film remains the most visually striking, it exhibits a grittier grain texture that enhances its dramatic depth. Specular highlights are upgraded tastefully for added brightness without gimmicks. Notable scenes include Irene Jacob's vibrant interaction with a red backdrop in Red and the vivid blue crystal mobile in Blue.

Despite White being less colorful, its handling of whites and reduced noise in dark scenes represent a substantial upgrade over earlier editions. The trilogy's color consistency greatly surpasses that of the washed-out Artificial Eye Blu-rays, providing a richer visual experience. While further comparisons with releases like the Curzon UK 4K set could yield additional insights, this edition stands as an exceptional triumph in presenting Kieslowski's cinematic masterpieces.

The audio presentation of the "Three Colors" 4K UHD Blu-ray is a remarkable achievement, offering a profound auditory experience through its 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio tracks. These tracks stem from the original 35mm magnetic audio tapes, representing a significant upgrade over previous releases. The improvements manifest evidently with dialogues that are clearer and soundtracks that exhibit well-balanced and natural atmospheres. The music scores by Zbigniew Preisner resonate with fidelity, enriching the nuanced narrative tones synonymous with the trilogy. The technical prowess of this release ensures minimal distortion, effectively eliminating issues like crackling, hissing, and popping, thus providing what is arguably the finest audio rendition available for these films on home video.

Furthermore, these 5.1 mixes introduced in the 4K discs surpass the prior 2011 Criterion Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mixes and perhaps even the 5.1 ones from the Artificial Eye Blu-ray editions, albeit the latter's comparative novelty remains unspecified. Regardless, the enhanced audio mixes adeptly encapsulate a more immersive and detailed surround experience, resonating authenticity and depth to reflect and augment the visual storytelling of the films. This deepened sonic landscape crafts a mesmerizing yet precise audio backdrop essential for appreciating the trilogy's artistic elements.

The "Three Colors" 4K UHD Blu Ray extras provide a comprehensive exploration of Krzysztof Kieslowski's cinematic artistry, with an impressive array of insightful features. The disc's supplements leverage past archives to offer dynamic retrospectives, including detailed scene analyses narrated by Kieslowski himself, providing viewers a rare glimpse into his creative process. Interviews with key collaborators such as Juliette Binoche, Zbigniew Preisner, Irène Jacob, and the trilogy’s screenwriter Krzysztof Piesiewicz add depth and personal recollections, while video essays by Annette Insdorf, Tony Rayns, and Dennis Lim dissect the trilogy’s themes and connections to broader socio-political narratives. Bollstering these are archival short documentaries and interviews, enhancing the collection’s appeal to both cinephiles and scholars. Overall, this release preserves the trilogy's legacy with commendable supplementary materials.

Extras included in this disc:

• On Blue: Annette Insdorf's video essay on liberty themes.
• Kieslowski's Cinema Lessons: Director's analysis of specific scenes.
• Juliette Binoche: Commentary on her work in the trilogy.
• Zbigniew Preisner: Composer's reflections on collaboration.
• Reflections on Blue: Retrospective featuring key collaborators.
• Kieslowski: The Early Years: Exploration of director’s early career.
• Two Student Films: Kieslowski’s early short films “The Tram” and “The Face”.
• On White: Tony Rayns' analysis of allegorical elements.
• Zamachowski and Delpy: Actors' insights from working on "White".
• Krzysztof Piesiewicz: Screenwriter interview on partnership with Kieslowski.
• The Making of White: Behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking.
• Two Documentaries: "Seven Women of Different Ages" and "Talking Heads".
• On Red: Dennis Lim's essay on narrative convergence.
• Irène Jacob: Reflections on acting and collaboration in "Red".
• Marin Karmitz: Producer’s perspective on the trilogy’s impact.
• Jacques Witta: Editor’s insights into Kieslowski’s editing style.
• Behind the Scenes of Red: Footage juxtaposing direction with scenes.
• Kieślowski Cannes 1994: Documentary on Cannes premiere and retirement announcement.
• Krzysztof Kieślowski: I’m So-So…: Feature-length documentary chronicling Kieslowski's life.

The Criterion Collection's 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of Krzysztof Kieślowski's "Three Colors" Trilogy provides a masterful cinematic experience, with each film representing the colors and ideals of the French flag: liberty (Blue), equality (White), and fraternity (Red). The trilogy is an exploration of philosophical themes through deeply personal and interconnected tales. "Blue" follows Julie (Juliette Binoche), a widow seeking liberation from her past, who uncovers hard truths about her late composer husband's secrets. The film is noted for its hauntingly ambiguous narrative and Binoche's standout performance.

In "White," we delve into a narrative focusing on equality through the experiences of Polish hairdresser Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski). His misfortunes post-divorce lead him back to Poland, where he devises a meticulous plan of revenge against his former wife Dominique (Julie Delpy). It's a tale marked by clever plot twists and a stark reminder that emotional fulfillment can remain elusive even amidst material success.

"Red" concludes the trilogy with an examination of fraternity through an unorthodox bond between a young model, Valentine (Irène Jacob), and a retired judge, Joseph Kern (Jean-Louis Trintignant). As personal lives intersect in unexpected ways, the film presents a profound narrative tied together by elegant cinematography and a gripping script. The characters' fates intensely intertwine, culminating in a boating accident that revisits past threads from "Blue" and "White."

Each film is not only an artistic triumph in storytelling but also a technical masterpiece. The dedication of composer Zbigniew Preisner and cinematographers Idziak, Klosinski, and Sobocinski ensures that the trilogy is visually striking, harmonizing color motifs with narrative depth. This collection stands as an enduring testament to Kieślowski’s visionary storytelling and philosophical inquiry within cinema.

Criterion Collection's 4K UHD release of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s renowned Three Colors Trilogy marks a significant advancement in the presentation of these 1990s arthouse classics. The films, integral to world cinema history, now benefit from refined HDR transfers that enhance detail, color, and depth, facilitating an enriched visual experience. The trilogy—Blue, White, and Red—each rated R for varying degrees of sexuality and language, maintains its emotional and thematic depth across 98, 91, and 99 minutes respectively. The transfer employs Dolby Vision HDR (HDR10 compatible) at a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, optimizing the visual aesthetic that Kieslowski crafted.

Despite notable technical improvements, the inclusion of non-restored Blu-ray discs from a previous 2011 release stands as a minor shortcoming, reflecting Criterion’s decision to repackage rather than refresh these elements. Nonetheless, the release successfully preserves all prior special features, supplemented by French and Polish DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio tracks and English subtitles, ensuring accessibility and maintaining audio fidelity.

In sum, Criterion Collection's offering is a laudable tribute to Kieslowski's legacy, presenting the films as definitive iterations on 4K Ultra HD. This release is a must-have for cinephiles and collectors alike, promising an array of insightful special features alongside exquisite technical enhancements. Final words for each of the three films in the box set can be found in the individual reviews, linked above. A hit internationally, Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Three Colors Trilogy was a defining series of films on the arthouse and world cinema stage in the 1990s and a fitting sendoff for the director, who passed away less than two years after the release of Red in 1996. Criterion has likely delivered the definitive release of the trilogy with solid HDR transfers of each of the three films, while carrying over all the special features from Criterion’s previous release. Very highly recommended.