Analyse the film The Colour Red, concentrating on the way meaning is constructed

Para 2: Symbolism – Glass and Water and Light and Music

• Glass, relevance of windows – seeing but not contacting – distorting our view, increase it or prevent it, forces focus on some things and ignoring others
• Relevance of camera’s and images of V on billboard
• Broken glass, signifies danger but also hope – letting the light in almost.
• Opening up the real world through broken glass – windows almost like protection from the weather, but in some cases from truth
• Water as rebirth, new possibilities, creates new relationships, tears
• Different use of light in different scenes. Create atmosphere, imply power of Judges character – being watched, audience is watching – truth?
• V cries after meeting with judge, water and water – does he have influence or power over her life? Lead to change?
• Reflections of water. Because of its cleansing nature? Birth, rebirth, truth?
• Use of music – influence understanding of Judges character (angelic music)
• Implies character connections ie V and Bloke
• V listening to holy yet disturbing music, wants to buy – bloke had bought last copy

Para 3: Technology – Relationships, Voyeurism, Biblical References

• Telephone cord in credit intro scene
• Telephones throughout the film – relationships through, meetings by, engaged
• Radios – V listening when hits dog (lack of attention the reality) Judge spying through use of Radio.
• Why is K using these images? What is his social comment on technology in regard to his theme of Fraternity?
• Questions of morality, private realm, control or lack of in own life
• Leads to concepts of fate or chance
• Increased communication leading to decreased connections
• Strangers can become closer than lovers over the phone

Conclusion

Valentine says that she wished that she could help, but the judge replies that she can not live the life for her brother, she can EXIST, just EXIST.

The wonderful thing about Kieslowski’s films is that he was disinclined to give his own interpretation on his art works, rather allowing the viewer to come to their own concepts. There is no right or wrong answer, only interpretation. They can be enlightening or disenchanting. Red is a film open to the unique understanding of the individual, its meaning is universal in that its openness enables individuals to divine their own perspectives, and relate it to their own understanding of reality and modernity.

Through the possibility of death – ferry/storm etc – realise meaning of existence, people come together in such situations, this is the MEANING of life. People, communication through contact… not telephonic relationships.