The second film in Kieslowski’s “Three Colours Trilogy,” the entertaining White is a black comedy based on the tricolour tenet of egalité. Polish actor Zbigniew Zamachowski gives a wonderfully Chaplinesque performance as Karol, a bumbling hairdresser left penniless on the streets of Paris after he is divorced by his beautiful French wife (Julie Delpy).
Kieslowski’s unpredictable rags-to-riches tale has Karol returning, in rather ignominious fashion, to his native Poland, where an unexpected aptitude for the prevailing cutthroat capitalism leads to a fantastic scheme to get his ex-wife’s attention.
A droll black comedy that takes a scalpel to the impoverished ethics of the new money-obsessed Poland, and to the selfish impulses tied up with our desires for a balanced sexual relationship. It’s often cruel, of course, and cool as an ice-pick, but it’s still endowed with enough unsentimental humanity to end with a touching, lyrical admission of the power of love. Essential viewing.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A rich, light-handed marvel.
Caryn James, New York Times
Media Partner
Krzysztof Kieślowski
Julie Delpy, Zbigniew Zamachowski
Poland/France
1994
In Polish and French with English subtitles
Silver Bear, Berlin Film Festival
Book Tickets
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Credits
Producer
Martin Karmitz
Screenwriter
Krzysztof Piesiewicz, Krzysztof Kieslowski
Cinematography
Edward Klosiński
Editor
Urszula Lesiak
Original Music
Zbigniew Preisner
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