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Three Colors: White

Three Colors: White

1994
Comedy
Drama
1h 32m
Second of a trilogy of films dealing with contemporary French society shows a man dealing with a Polish immigrant whose wife wants to divorce him because he can't perform in bed (imdb)
Your probable score
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Three Colors: White

1994
Comedy
Drama
1h 32m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 66.86% from 3416 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(3416)
Compact view
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Rated 22 May 2008
75
50th
This was certainly very different from Blue, and frankly a bit of a letdown coming after such a masterpiece. White is much lighter than Blue, and somewhat darkly comical with a slightly absurd plot and characters that straddle the line of believability. It's by no means a bad film, but it doesn't have half the emotional heft that Blue had, and it's not as visually interesting either. I guess it's a victim of association; if I weren't comparing it to Blue I wouldn't be so hard on it.
Rated 24 Jan 2007
85
84th
It's the least impressive of the trilogy from an aesthetic standpoint. Delpy's attitude at the beginning is unconvincing. It doesn't really uphold the theme of "equality" that well. And the plot's climax is preposterous. But I still like it. Zbigniew Zamachowski carries the film well, making his character interesting and entertaining. The light comedy serves the trilogy well, especially coming after heavy drama of Blue. It's got a fun, vibrant story, even if it's not entirely plausible.
Rated 23 Nov 2009
79
52nd
Disappointing when compared to Blue but pretty decent on its own.
Rated 15 Apr 2009
84
90th
It may lack the somber and sublime touch of Blue, but I like it a lot more, probably because Kieslowski has such sympathy for his lovably flawed characters. When Karol (and Kieslowski) comes home to Poland the film blossoms with this incredible love and warmth despite the many obvious misgivings (The whole sequence involving Karol's return is just perfect).
Rated 14 Feb 2009
71
57th
By far the weakest of the trilogy in all facets; the visuals, the performances but especially plot. Early on Zamachowski was rather tiresome, only when combined again with the intriguing Gajos did the story start to come alive. The key romance, though, felt contrived and false at all stages, as such the ending (and coda in red) comes off as preposterous. Kieslowski's isolated moments of beauty help make this watchable, but it unfortunately adds nothing of consequence to the trilogy.
Rated 27 Jan 2008
83
72nd
Artistically it's not as deep as the other two in the trilogy and it has a somewhat lighter tone. It's still a very well constructed story with interesting, if not quite fleshed out, characters. I found it very enjoyable.
Rated 11 Dec 2008
84
83rd
Loses to Blue in visuals and details but has it's own strengths. Good story.
Rated 16 Sep 2022
76
64th
Inside a sandwich of two artistically-curated, seasoned, brilliantly-risen slices of film loaf used for the world’s sexiest movie sandwich I get a filling of cheese and butter, and that’s exactly how the French like it. It’s basically a bit of European comedy nonsense: a beautiful piece about friendship, and how the ideal of égalité, the joy of being human these days, basically means being punched around different bodily orifices depending on the time of day.
Rated 28 Aug 2012
75
77th
The first glimpse of white in the film? A pigeon shits on Karol's jacket. That sets the tone for the rest of the picture. A black comedy about love and equality, but also a satire on economic opportunism and the cost of vengeance. It's a little cryptic in places (the end), but the acting is so good and the characters are so human it hardly matters that some of it doesn't make sense.
Rated 30 Oct 2009
78
75th
I like this one better than Bleu. Haven't seen Rouge yet
Rated 23 Dec 2008
71
50th
The weakest of the Three Colors films, but still watchable and insightful nonetheless. Bounding with great ideas, as Kieslowski's movies often were.
Rated 11 Apr 2020
82
88th
Maybe not the emotional and esthetic wallop that Blue is, but a LOT more fun - in that bleak Forman-meets-Kaurismäki way. Also, reminding us that this is the early 90s, retroactively expands Blue from a movie where "The United Europe" was mostly an excuse for French artistes to put on a concert, to one where an entire half a continent is scrabbling and grifting to not sleep in subway stations. "Anyone can buy a corpse. Russian OK?"
Rated 21 Feb 2012
80
89th
Three Colors: White is a great film that manages to properly balance drama, thrills and comedy. It tells a story worth telling with characters that are worth investing in. It has many memorable moments all with different tones, and it will manage to make you cry and laugh, while also getting the adrenaline flowing. It does everything so effortlessly, even if the director seemed to be trying too hard to get us interested in the ex-wife character. That's about the only thing that White does wrong.
Rated 18 Jan 2012
77
53rd
Amusing but uneven comedy that relies entirely on Zamachowski's quite wonderful portrait of permanent befuddlement, and a rich supporting performance from depressed Gajos. Lacks the stylistic brilliance that made BLUE a masterpiece, and credibility is stretched to the breaking point at times, but it remains very entertaining. Delpy is a wonderful and welcome presence as always.
Rated 17 Mar 2011
65
58th
It starts off incredibly but quickly dissolves into a tepid exercise of storytelling gimmicks. Less intriguing, thought-provoking, and visually arresting than either Blue or Red.
Rated 28 Nov 2008
83
88th
A funny story. Looses touch in the very end. Good leading actors, specially Janusz Gajos. Delpy's part was pretty brief. My favourite of three was Blue and Juliette Binoche. Cannot remember much of the Red though.
Rated 24 Sep 2010
90
85th
I actually couldn't get my hands on Blue, so I watched White first. It's wonderful. Everyone says that Blue is better, and I can't wait. White is really tight and disciplined, which surprised me. The trilogy's reputation precedes it, and I expected something a little more indulgent. Don't get me wrong, this movie is way too smart for me, and I'm going to have to watch it a few more times before I fully understand it, but the bare-bones plot was damned compelling, and it had me hooked.
Rated 03 Nov 2009
86
80th
Karol’s idea of regaining equality is an elaborate revenge plot, but as we know, two wrongs don’t make a right. Meanwhile, the promise of a reunited Europe has led to an unequal one, with the Eastern bloc still treated with scorn by the Western countries, and the promise of opportunity leading largely to corruption. And it’s all funny as hell! (Fourth time watching, and in my fourth format - DVD, Blu-Ray, 35mm, and 4K UHD)
Rated 30 Mar 2012
75
53rd
I think what I most enjoy about 'White' is how it reflects the French ideal of 'Equality'...for all the wrong reasons. A darkly humourous revenge tale, I found myself thoroughly entertained for the two hours it lasts. Of course, it's difficult to review the film as you inevitably compare it to the rest of Kieślowski's oeuvre, where it is a weaker effort (the ending, especially, feels 'off' to me), but really, it's still a great film. Nothing inherently wrong with it at all.
Rated 07 Dec 2020
83
77th
I had taken Kieslowski for being humorless so this one caught me off guard, felt like a proto-Fargo. Lots of interesting motifs and threads - hiding inside the suitcase/outside the coffin, double fake-out deaths, the path of the coin. The characters here feel more alive than in Blue, I especially enjoyed seeing Jerzy Stuhr again as the older brother after The Scar/Camera Buff.
Rated 13 Feb 2014
80
73rd
I liked the story as a whole, but the overlong middle part became quite the bore, as we see Karol making a career for himself. It's a step back from Three Colors: Blue, both in story, acting and cinematography, but the music is still immensely beautiful.
Rated 15 May 2010
84
81st
I found the story much more compelling than the first one, Blue.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
60
31st
Uh-huh yeah how come they didn't make Three Colors: Black? That's how racist these big hollywood movies are.
Rated 02 Nov 2015
3
45th
Like its predecessor, White is about a despairing person who has lost love, but this is an amusing and preposterous tale of the lengths of desperation. It's beautifully composed, perhaps somewhat lacking an elevating poignancy, but effectively complementary to its counterparts.
Rated 30 Apr 2009
8
82nd
Better than Blue, and my 2nd favorite from this trilogy. Zamachowski is awesome as the lead and Delpy plays off him very well.
Rated 18 Aug 2010
82
88th
I can't believe it's taken me 15 years to get round to seeing this. Wonderfully understated eastern european black humour, and such affection for the Polish characters. For all its laughs, the film has something serious to say about love and desire.
Rated 09 Dec 2015
80
72nd
I found the pacing of "White" to be much more in line with Kieslowski's earlier work. It is a regression visually when compared to "Blue" but the script and ensemble performances are welcome upgrades. I loved seeing the rebirth of Karol and the mirroring symbolism that accompanies his absurd path to revenge. Overall another excellent entry into the trilogy and I can't wait to finish with "Red".
Rated 21 Oct 2020
70
30th
broh stop simping
Rated 13 Aug 2008
67
53rd
Interesting love story in a similar style to the first film of the trilogy, Blue. While it's still a good movie, it didn't impress me as much as Blue did. I'm curious what I'm going to think of Red, as I haven't seen that one yet.
Rated 01 Mar 2013
70
46th
Karol's a dumbass; he could've lived a great life back in Poland but he had to think with his dick. Why this film had to have its ending re-evaluated, i get, and the results are honest.
Rated 13 Feb 2018
80
57th
Definitely a lighter cinematic experience than Blue. A much more developed plot with an interesting parallel of symbolism and images that surround Karol. An appropriate dose of black humor that reflects on the desperation for love and this tale of revenge. I find it a welcoming piece to the trilogy and that "white" conveys this idea of equality exactly how the color is expressed - much softer and less extreme.
Rated 03 Mar 2011
94
95th
Not as consistent as the other two films in the trilogy, White boasts the wonderfully comic face of Zamachowski, which plays well off of the stunning beauty of Delpy. The film contains a number of striking contrasts, as well as a thoughtful interplay between freedom and equality. Zamachowski, as the rejected lover, never stops pursuing his bride, realizing that the only way to get her back is to take the most extreme action. The opaque but hopeful ending tops the film off nicely.
Rated 06 Jun 2013
84
92nd
Tünelin sonunda az da olsa ışık varmış
Rated 31 Jul 2022
84
72nd
Reminds me of Decalogue Ten (also starring Zamachowski), which was one of the highlights of the series for me. Though tonally lighter and more concerned with the physical world than the other two Colors entries, the complex plotting feels polished rather than contrived. Much of its success relies on the accomplished performances, but this would simply not work without anyone but Kieslowski directing.
Rated 19 Aug 2013
80
71st
This was unexpectedly light in tone relative to its predecessor, Blue, but it wasn't a bad thing, as Kieslowski's world-class style was still painted all over it. Zbigniew Zamachowski is a perfect schlub, so innocent in his shortcomings as to be unforgettably charming. I cannot speak highly enough of the cinematography; adhering to a single color for a motif would be so easy to screw up, but the instances of white are so deftly placed that it is both entirely fluid and beautiful.
Rated 03 Sep 2014
80
86th
Less beautiful but more humorous than Bleu. Would watch again. The ending didn't work for me. I thought maybe the woman was in a mental home in the end, but plot synopsis indicates she had been convicted and incarcerated. Either way, it seems implausible and too pat.
Rated 22 Jun 2016
74
83rd
Very charming movie. I enjoyed this film quite a lot, and found the story to be quite endearing. So far this one is my favorite in the series, though Red is also fantastic
Rated 02 Dec 2010
45
9th
The second installment in Kielowski's trilogy is a failure and a disappointment and this is mostly due to a terribly incoherent, uneventful and uninteresting script and the director's apparent denial to transform it into something poignant, as he had done in "Bleu", and simply settles for indifferent decency instead. Despite some interesting interactions and ideas, "Blanc" never takes off and remains exhaustingly dull until the end. It's only 91 minutes long, and yet, it feels like an eternity.
Rated 02 Dec 2011
65
65th
The movie does have a quiet charm, but it doesn't come even close to Blue. There are some elements of a dark comedy in the film, but I can't say I found it especially funny. The film's strength lies in good acting and some interesting characters. It's biggest flaw is the incoherent storytelling.
Rated 05 Aug 2012
84
65th
The dash of comedy is a welcome addition to the trilogy. Zamachowski makes for a lovable sad sack.
Rated 27 Apr 2009
5
80th
My favorite of Kieslowski.
Rated 05 Aug 2011
77
24th
Reasonable and comparatively straightforward (for the trilogy) this has a few things to say about love, death and alienation. The plot is uses to say them comes across as a bit contrived, however, and few of the characters come across sympathetically except Janusz Gajos.
Rated 18 Dec 2018
70
62nd
Can't reach the bar that Blue as a starting point for a trilogy set so high. Much less emotion in this one, not only because Juliette Binoche only appears for two seconds, and much fewer memorable shots.
Rated 24 Jan 2010
8
78th
The story didn't seem to go anywhere for a while and I found it far less absorbing than Blue. There wasn't enough focus on the Delpy character but Karol's elaborate scheme did win me over eventually and the music was great once again.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
90
91st
You know what, fuck you, this is my favourite in the trilogy. It's more tightly packed and a little less adventurous with it's characters, but it's still ultimately the most satisfying in the trilogy for me. The love-drunk actions Karol goes through to win back the affection of Dominique are just jaw-dropping and make for a highly unboring film.
Rated 25 Mar 2022
89
82nd
White starts on an interesting note (protagonist needs some time to get used-to him), and it's apparent that it's gonna be a completely different kind of experience than Blue was. Grim on one moments (Polish grey, muddy landscape!), and amusing on other. I really liked the emotional responses of characters when they were prompted into it. And the gun scene is probably legendary by now, this guy Gajos and his 'expressionless' role is wonderful, the right face for the role. Essential watch.
Rated 15 Jan 2014
90
80th
Compared to Kieslowski's other films, this one has much more of a plot, detailing a darkly humorous story of obsessive revenge. The pair of Zamachowski and Delpy is strong, and there are a couple of very intense scenes, but it is a bit lacking in visual flair compared to Blue and Veronique.
Rated 12 Jul 2008
90
92nd
My favourite of the trilogy, probably because it's the most straightforward. Also maybe because it has Julie Delpy in it. It's enthralling right from the start.
Rated 17 Jun 2012
90
97th
Disarming.
Rated 01 Dec 2022
70
39th
audiovisual 70 acting 70 overall feeling 69 avg ~70
Rated 02 Mar 2008
66
45th
# 673
Rated 22 Jan 2010
75
17th
It's not better than Blue, but, once more, you have to feel it.
Rated 19 Mar 2016
84
77th
A man would go to great lengths when faced with an allegation of impotency.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
69th
Best part of Three colors triogy ..
Rated 19 Apr 2019
66
63rd
Escorpião
Rated 22 May 2012
66
33rd
I don't know why Kieslowski tried to fit this silly tale of insecurity between Blue & Red, but there exists spots of joy even on the cold Polish countryside.
Rated 23 May 2021
70
34th
I knew this had a reputation for being the weakest in the trilogy, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment. While I was deeply invested in Binoche's character in Blue, this couple seemed so thinly developed that I never really connected or cared about what happened to either of them, and consequently, the film as a whole, not to mention this film is aesthetically bland compared to its predecessor. Am I being too harsh? Maybe.
Rated 21 May 2013
75
56th
Definitely the weakest of the trilogy. Isn't as stylistically arresting as Red and Blue (though still quite good in that department). The first 75 minutes of it are really great storytelling - well paced, interesting, follow our main character through a lot of changes and goes places you don't really expect it to. Unfortunately the last 10 minutes or so do feel very unsatisfying partly due to some cuts that were supposedly made and partly due to the fact that I don't buy the ending.
Rated 03 Feb 2015
70
71st
The least formally interesting of the Three Colors trilogy, White lacks the 'special' atmosphere of Blue and Red, resulting in a straight forward film that is almost too focussed on story and character. It's essentially a dark comedy about a jilted man's obsession to reunite with his former spouse that reflects a rather bleak view on romantic/sexual relations. It's undeniably well made, but it's hard to not think of what a more suitable director like Polanski would have done with the material.
Rated 12 Jul 2011
88
31st
Director made a few great films this trilogy being one.
Rated 05 Apr 2015
80
65th
Its impact and message rely so much on that final shot to send it home. If it's off the mark, the movie could have been almost disastrous, or at the very least severely misguided and cruel. Oh, there's still general cruelty in spades but it's felt and is not issued out with frivolity as it initially seems.
Rated 01 Nov 2011
89
88th
ma fav!!! all the time
Rated 18 Dec 2009
63
51st
Interesting love story in a similar style to the first film of the trilogy, Blue. While it's still a good movie, it didn't impress me as much as Blue did. I'm curious what I'm going to think of Red, as I haven't seen that one yet.
Rated 14 Oct 2011
80
61st
In my opinion, way better than Blue.
Rated 06 Nov 2012
80
46th
A fitting plot based middle part of the trilogy.
Rated 22 Aug 2012
85
88th
What a difference from 'Blue'. Gone is the claustrophobic weight and in comes intensely black humour. The plot is a fabulously wound story that skirts the edge of ridiculousness with many side-splitting moments.
Rated 24 Mar 2017
60
24th
A badly written, boring, unfunny "comedy". After finding Blue to be surprisingly good, this is a huge disappointment. Its competently made, and its nothing terrible, but its absolutely nothing special or noteworthy. The decent acting and a few small connections to Blue puts it a bit above average, but overall this movie is a huge step down from the first in the trilogy.
Rated 19 Jun 2015
4
91st
Ahh, he's toned down the allegory some so I enjoyed this absurdity-drenched (and great-looking) tale of pettiness and gangsterism more than the first one.
Rated 19 Jan 2020
70
53rd
Karol Karol: "That was a blank. The next one's real. Are you sure?"
Rated 07 Sep 2010
9
92nd
Unique and still of high quality. Use of colours and music is still grand, just lacked focus. Kieslowski managing to work on all three parts of his trilogy is remarkable and while this one is the weakest, its still great.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
77th
I consider this to be 1/3 of the greatest film of the last part of the century. A nice breather between the two "heavier" thirds. Zbignew was amazing, especially with Jerzy !!
Rated 19 Dec 2008
63
26th
736
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
71st
Score based on distant memory.
Rated 03 Oct 2011
80
70th
Feels a little bland compared to the other two films in the trilogy, but I thought Karol and Mikolaj were very interesting characters and the story is enjoyable overall.
Rated 02 Apr 2007
50
33rd
Interesting love story but somehow I don't care that much
Rated 28 Jul 2007
95
98th
It's amazing..
Rated 09 Apr 2009
75
82nd
Elegant and acid comedy of a Chaplinesque little man at large in an enterpreneurial Poland -- 'home at last', says our hero, regaining consciousness on a Warsaw rubbish dump after a nightmare trip from France.
Rated 02 Oct 2021
90
71st
His wife divorces him because he can't do sex with her. She also threatens to call the police. He flees the country in the suitcase of another man. He starts making a fortune again and in the end fakes his death. His ex wife comes to his funeral. After that she appears to herself again and make sex. But! Ths esthse pagida, thn kathgoroune gia to thanato tou k mpainei fulakh. Aftos sunexizei na zei xaroumenis poy kserei oti vrisketai kleidemenh sto keli kai mporei na thn blepei Drama very good!
Rated 04 Jul 2011
95
89th
Highly underrated. A darkly comic gem and an essential part of THE trilogy.
Rated 21 Dec 2015
78
67th
Spekulatif gucun tatmin gerecleri uzerindeki olumlu, erdemler uzerindeki olumsuz etkisine ornek...
Rated 17 Aug 2013
85
68th
The second film in the Three Colors trilogy is a revenge comedy that feels quite different from the other two films. It has a Chaplin-esque quality to it, but it still has a dark edge to its story much like Red and Blue.
Rated 29 Oct 2013
84
79th
84.000
Rated 25 Aug 2020
77
70th
There wasn't as much Delpy as I had hoped for, and there's even less France, but we do get multiple comb concertos so I guess it all balances out.
Rated 02 May 2017
50
23rd
It's acted well and paced in a way that it never felt laborious. Yet for a "comedy" it's never really funny which makes the absurd lengths the story and characters explore just unbelievable and sometimes confusing as opposed to fuel for humor.
Rated 18 Jun 2011
60
35th
After Three Colours Blue, this one suffers greatly in comparison but as a Kieslowski film by its own, it is an admirable yet lesser work. The plot itself is the film's weakness, of interest but difficult to raise up to the quality of Kieslowski's other work; if it wasn't one of his films, it could easily become a standard 'Euro-drama' with little of interest. Its biggest virtue though is that, despite where the narrative goes, the sense of heart to it is always at the forefront and drives it.
Rated 08 Apr 2007
81
95th
Quite a while back then when I was first viewing the trilogy White was my most popular. I can see the fallacy now, but having it as a part of trilogy is complementary. It is what makes one of the grandest of trilogies edible.
Rated 03 Mar 2013
50
56th
Not a bad movie by itself but a major disappointment after Blue. Kieslowski seems to have lacked an idea for White and has shoehorned a very mediocre script into it. His directing is engaging but the story is incoherent and the characters and their motivations are undeveloped and utterly unrelatable. I kept waiting for the movie to pull itself together but it never happened.
Rated 13 Mar 2017
3
38th
To say this is an unusual film would be an understatement. Kieslowski takes a plot that would be, in the hands of virtually anybody else, a rather straightforward black comedy, and suffuses it with an air of grace and levity that make it feel far lighter than you'd expect for a film in which the characters so often treat each other with astounding cruelty. Take it as a victory of love over the senses, I suppose.
Rated 02 Sep 2019
60
35th
An OK revenge story filled with some interesting and complex characters, but it gets lost due to some hefty symbolism throughout the movie. I'm sorry: I laughed at the lady recycling the bottle, too (I think because I remembered the similar scene from Blue).
Rated 10 Dec 2012
80
81st
watched: 2012, 2024
Rated 01 Aug 2009
82
87th
The weakest of the trilogy for me. It lacks a little direction and focus. But still a very pretty and effective film, and a worthy addition to one of the great trilogies.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
4
52nd
has moments of great beauty; the gun and the scene that followed were wonderful. it certainly doesn't match up to the first though, taking a while to get into it and being rather silly at times - the way the romance went around felt especially ridiculous. great photography like the previous one, though not as good as that, and great soundtrack too.
Rated 01 Aug 2021
85
89th
It is my favorite. I know that is an uncommon thought, but it is amazing. Better than Blue and Red.
Rated 02 Sep 2020
95
98th
03.09.2020 İstanbul Kartal
Rated 02 Jan 2007
34
14th
A igualdade é branca estreava há 30 anos na França, no dia do meu aniversário de 13 anos. Por razões agora óbvias eu não gostava desse dentro da trilogia nos anos 90, nem sequer sabia o que era patriarcado, mas certamente já sabia sobre a suposta igualdade de gêneros fictícia na prática. E o Kieslowski me faz um filme de vingança masculina de um homem branco brocha representando igualdade? Vai tomar no cu. Só pra fantasia de incel mesmo e não tem alegoria política que o salve. Box Versátil Trilo
Rated 10 Jul 2011
65
71st
White is a color of equality. Kieslowski does a black comedy, and it is not his strongest discipline. Interesting commentary on capitalism, but the love and revenge story doesn't leave much of an impression, besides being self-absorbed.
Rated 05 Aug 2012
88
80th
That hired suicide scene at the train platform...I'll never forget that brilliant scene.
Rated 24 Sep 2009
76
62nd
By far, the Mikolaj subplot and character study is the best part of the film.
Rated 06 Jan 2009
90
88th
06 Ocak 2009, 23:41 & hersey dengesinde guzel. white, hayatta, yasamda ve insan dogasinda dengenin onemini anlatiyor. oyunculuklar cok cok cok cok iyi.
Rated 21 Oct 2020
79
68th
I wish this movie had a bit more time for its plot, because there are so many crazy plot developments. A little silly, especially in comparison to its two companion movies, but very entertaining.

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