In Blue-Decourcy finds true freedom
RATING:
I give a rating of 4.5, goes to the film Blue. Juliette Binoche?s sophisticated performance as Julie de Courcy brings my rating to a 5. Blue is a true treasure of a movie. The story line of a woman?s path through grief, sorrow, self discovery which ultimately leads to joy can be quite complicated to take on for a movie, yet through Krzysztof Kieslowski?s direction along with cast & crew, it is done quite smoothly to end up being a splendid film.
BACKGROUND:
The movie Blue is a record of Julie de Courcy?s path from anguish to joy. The film displays the back and forth steps one takes when continually avoiding, dodging, and ignoring the pain and grief she holds inside without any self acknowledgement. During her continual attempts at pushing pain away, that thing called ?Life? starts playing its dirty tricks by throwing chaos at the individual until there?s no choice than to confront the ailment which lies deep inside.
In Blue, there?s a full picture of why the house of repression can only be built for a bit. Slowly, but surely, death permeates your existence to?life?s purpose? who am I? Blue vividly shows the path to true freedom, a real life, and calling your life your own. Steps through grey zones are shown in Blue as I?ve never seen it done. Binoche?s performance holds the audience captive as she does this painful walk, brilliantly conveying the healing & ultimately the making of a masterpiece.
A famous musician once said, ?If you don?t stand for something, you?ll fall for anything.? Slaying dragons within our past, Blue ties the audience into Julie?s denial. Julie ignores her emotions, coming close to death?s call. Sitting in a Paris café, far from her farm, life exists only in others. Life?s intentions amount to sugar cubes soaking up her morning coffee, day by day. She?s gone nothing but a hollow shell, the only remains, a Blue chandelier belonging to her daughter.
Through the difficult, dreary steps of de Courcy in Paris, the film shows us that the path has the opportunity to lead to joy. We feel alive as she begins to ask friends for help, returns to the farm and reaches out to others; by confronting issues and facing her emotions held deep inside, Julie de Courcy shows us the beauty of the masterpiece her life becomes.
Experiencing a similar walk, I know the details can be ugly. Emotions roller-coaster; it?s hard to know who you are. Guilty of jumping onto different paths, hiding, reversing, oscillating to the point of even becoming a zombie, it is simply easier. Hopefully, one goes full circle to acknowledging & accepting self. Through the mastery of Blue?s script, cinematography and Binoche?s performance, this point of invigoration is experienced as Julie?s character comes alive.
That path is not filled with beautifully smelling roses. At one point, the film shows the ivy-colored stone wall causing de Courcy bloody pain, which she ignores, as we wince from skin rubbed raw on her knuckles and hand. This powerful sequence brilliantly shows the pain, sorrow, and fright/flight instincts she chose to ignore and moves to her new life in a drab Paris flat.
I?ve contemplated a similar forced isolation, ridding belongings, selling a familiar home, moving to Paris where no one is known; on the other side of pain and sorrow, was the realization that, I?m here and you?re there. We each have our warts, funky spots, and past stories. And we live interdependent of each other. Running is not allowed. Ultimately, we must acknowledge what is inside of us.
?All good things, in all good time? so they say?So can be said for the path to liberty. Liberty is something that takes its toll. Blue powerfully shows this through Julie de Courcy?s inner reflections, the lighting throughout Blue, the various mirrors, and even the swimming pool?s water. There is a truly profound beauty in Blue; leading to the peace of mind freedom can give you.