Compared with the first two "Blue" and "White" of the trilogy, "Red" has changed from a single-line narrative to a multi-line narrative, and on the basis of the current timeline, the past timeline is expanded through dialogue and reincarnation in parallel. The narrative is therefore fuller and richer than the previous two. The film has two themes: fraternity and fate. In my personal opinion, the latter surprises me more.
The film is mainly composed of the connected lines of Valentina and the old judges, and the lines of free young judges. Valentina and the old judge are the two main subjects of the dialogue narrative, and the theme of "fraternity" is mainly expressed in this part. The old judge had evil speculations about human nature, while Valentina believed that human nature was inherently good. But the ideological conflict between them was weakened by emotion after the climax of the first half of the film. The old judge's ideological change did not stem from reason, but from Valentina's beautiful image, which made the "fraternity" The subject is moving but frivolous, and the film's red tones, while warm, also fail to support the subject. Compared with "Blue" in the trilogy, the "freedom" of "Blue" is also elusive, but because of its ideological blank, it gives the audience room to think, the mysterious and cold temperament is exactly the same. The charm of "Blue"; however, the "fraternity" in "Red" shows the audience an absolutely correct attitude. The image of Valentina, the symbol of "fraternity", is too perfect, so it is a little empty. For me, the lack of performance of the first theme is undoubtedly a major regret of the film.
The narrative line of the young judge August mainly shows another theme, "Fate". Auguste does not belong to any subject of the dialogue narrative, but becomes a part of the dialogue narrative. His story is a reflection from the present to the past. This handwriting avoids the simple use of interlude, thus making the dialogue narrative very smooth and complete, and at the same time, it also highlights the theme of "destiny" through this overlapping of fate. This narrative line is not only at the same time as the two sides of the dialogue, but also in the same space at times, and even slightly overlaps in fate. The staggered interaction between these makes the echo between the characters' fates stronger and the structure of the whole movie more complete.
1. Looking out the window of Valentina's house, you can see Auguste's residence.
2. August passes by Valentina in the car, and then August's book falls, similar to the story told by the old judge.
3. Auguste, disturbed by the honking of Valentina's car, looks out the window. Just then his girlfriend appeared, and Valentina hurried to her car.
4. Valentina, August and his girlfriend listen to music in the same video store.
5. According to the details such as "two years older", the weather announcer monitored by the old judge was August's girlfriend. The conversation they heard was August's conversation with his girlfriend.
6. When the old judge came to court because he turned himself in, he met August's girlfriend and her cheating partner.
7. As Valentina goes bowling, the camera pans to the side and stops in front of a broken mug filled with beer and a pack of cigarettes next to it. According to the previous eavesdropping conversation, August and his girlfriend also planned to go bowling, but presumably this date was not pleasant, and August might not even wait for his girlfriend to come.
8. Valentina won the lottery, there were three cherries on the machine, and the owner reminded her that it was not a good sign. When August went to find his girlfriend and was about to find out that his girlfriend was cheating, these three cherries also appeared.
9. August's girlfriend told the old judge that she was going to the English Channel, and she was on the same ship as Valentina and August, but she was not among the last rescued, indicating that she died in the shipwreck. One point coincides with the fate of the old judge's lover.
Not only August, the story of Valentina and the old judge also has hints of "fate". Valentina's encounter with the old judge is more like a joke of time. If she was born fifty years earlier, and if he was born fifty years later, wouldn't this be a wonderful encounter? Or maybe this beautiful story will happen between Auguste and Valentina? August's bizarre overlap in the fate of the old judge may be short-lived or permanent, he may start a new journey, or he may be alone for a lifetime. After the shipwreck, Valentina walked out with him, and according to the warm and optimistic tone of the whole film, we can boldly guess for a better future, a new and happy relationship.
At the end of the film, Valentina's profile after being rescued formed a wonderful echo with the posters she had shot before. At this point, that poster has been taken down, and a new "poster" has appeared, and the whole movie perfectly forms a closed loop.
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