Run time: 98 mins

Juliette Binoche gives a tour de force performance as a woman reeling from tragedy in the devastating first film of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s spiritual Three Colours trilogy.

Julie is haunted by her grief after living through a tragic accident that claimed the life of her composer husband and young daughter. Her initial reaction is to withdraw from her relationships, lock herself in her apartment and suppress her pain. But avoiding human interactions on the bustling streets of Paris proves impossible, and she eventually meets up with Olivier (Benoît Régent), an old friend who harbours a secret love for her, and who could draw her back to reality.

The blue in the French flag stands for ‘liberté’. It’s the freedom to choose the life you want to live, to take the turns you want to take, and to take control over what happens to you. Shot in sapphire tones and set to an extraordinary operatic score by Zbigniew Preisner, “Blue” is an overwhelming sensory experience. More than just a study of grief; it’s also a tale of liberation, as Julie attempts to free herself from the past while confronting truths about the life of her late husband. One of Kieślowski’s most celebrated works, the film continues to have undeniable relevance 30 years on.