The Three Colours Trilogy
1993-1994, directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski, starring Juliette Binoche, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie Delphy, Irene Jacob, Jean-Louis Trinitignant

Had a friend not suggested them, I would never have considered checking out a trilogy of films by a Polish director subtitled from the French. I will always be grateful to said friend for making me aware of Krzysztof Kieslowski's three Colours Trilogy, a trio of beautiful films whose observational quality is second to none.

While all in their way observations of modern life, each film tells a completely separate story, seemingly only coming together in an admittedly somewhat contrived fashion at the end of the final film, Red, but if you watch carefully there are subtle and skillfully crafted links between the trio right through each chapter. In my opinion the middle one, White, is the weakest of the three – it lacks the attention to detail of the other two and takes longer to engage one's attention – though you are surprised at how it pulls you in at the end. My favourite is the opener, Blue, featuring a superb performance by Juliette Binoche as a woman running away to Paris seeking to rebuild her life after the death of her husband and daughter in a car crash. Particularly in this tale director Kieslowski demonstrates his mastery of observing and portraying the tiniest details of life around us, this a movie-making form that has always particularly attracted me.

Subtitled films don’t appeal? Try this trio, it may well change your view.