University Film Series

Three Colors: Blue

Tuesday, September 30th, 6:00 p.m., PAC 134
Free and open to the public!

(France, 1993) 98 minutes. Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowki.

Introduced by Dr. Rob Davidson (English).

In the devastating first film of the Three Colors trilogy, Juliette Binoche gives a tour de force performance as Julie, a woman reeling from the tragic death of her husband and young daughter. But Blue is more than just a blistering 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, a composer. Shot in sapphire tones by Sławomir Idziak, and set to an extraordinary operatic score by Zbigniew Preisner, Blue is an overwhelming sensory experience.

Rashoman

Tuesday, October 28th, 6:00 p.m., PAC 134
Free and open to the public!

(Japan, 1950) 88 minutes. Directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Introduced by Dr. Rob Davidson (English).

A riveting psychological thriller that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice, Rashomon is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Four people give different accounts of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife, which director Akira Kurosawa presents with striking imagery and an ingenious use of flashbacks. This eloquent masterwork and international sensation revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema—and a commanding new star by the name of Toshiro Mifune—to the Western world.