Three Films with Striking Colors

color, color, color.

When I see a beautiful scene while watching a movie, I truly feel that movies are all about the visuals.
I previously wrote an article about the unique beauty of black-and-white films, so this time, I would like to note some films with striking colors.

Among the black-and-white films I introduced in my previous article, there were some that used color in certain parts, and color in a world without it stands out so much that it is quite impressive.

However, when we think of movies, we usually think of color; it is natural for them to have color. Yet, even among them, there are directors who use color in an impressive way.

Director Takeshi Kitano, for instance, has scenes with such striking blue tones that it has been dubbed "Kitano Blue."
It is not every single scene, but there are certainly many shots with a bluish color palette.

This "Kitano Blue" is the type that is felt as the tone of the entire film, but beyond just the overall color palette, there are also films that emphasize contrast by combining scenes with different color tones.

For example, in Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the real world is depicted with very little color, while the inside of the chocolate factory is a colorful world centered on primary colors, creating a strong contrast.

I believe this is a commitment to a color composition directly linked to the story world, and it is this kind of director's dedication that makes it enjoyable.
This time, I would like to note three films that similarly feature the director's dedication to color throughout.

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"Bagdad Cafe"

First, I would like to introduce "Bagdad Cafe".
It is one of my favorite films, including its theme song "Calling You," and the entire film seems to be covered in a yellow filter.

I don't know what the significance is, but I feel that this yellow tone envelops the entire film, giving it a sense of fantasy that is somewhat detached from reality.

As an aside, I heard that the latest director's cut version, in which director Adlon adjusted the colors and composition, was released quite a while ago, but I haven't watched it yet because I'm afraid it might change my impression of the film.
I want to keep "Bagdad Cafe" just as it was back then, along with that yellow screen.

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

It is a masterpiece by the brilliant Greenaway... but the content is quite graphic, so I cannot recommend it to everyone.

However, there is no doubt that this is a film with a strong focus on visuals.
There are many scenes in this film that take place in limited rooms, and director Greenaway shows his dedication by deciding on a base color for each room and changing the colors of the characters' costumes to match the room's color.

For example, a woman who was wearing a white outfit in a white-based restroom changes into a red outfit when she walks out the door and into a red-based hallway.

When I first saw it, it was so natural that I didn't notice the trick until halfway through, but I remember thinking, 'Wait, what?' when I saw this scene.
...Usually, you wouldn't think there would be such a trick, would you?

Honestly, the content is somewhat perverse, and it is a film that strongly reflects the obsessive tendencies of director Greenaway himself.
It probably won't be broadcast on TV, including BS, and you won't see it at rental shops... I think it's a work that you can't easily watch unless you really intend to, but when you do watch it, it's better to be mentally prepared.

"Amélie"

Finally, there is "Amélie" by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who also shows a sophisticated sense of color.
You might call it cute, but it is director Jeunet, after all; personally, I think it's quite a dark film.
I feel like it's not as universally appealing as its ratings might suggest, though...

However, the composition of the visuals and the color scheme are truly impressive, and I think it's rare to find a film that is so particular about color.

The main colors are "red (vermilion)" and "green," and the use of color in each scene is painterly and very striking. The composition of "red (vermilion)" and "green," which are positioned directly opposite each other on the color wheel, is, in a sense, depicted as the solid world of the protagonist, Amélie.

The characters' clothes are also unified in either greenish or reddish tones.

She is just sitting in a chair, but the design of the chair is striped with "red (vermilion)" and "green." Including the trees in the background, the screen has a strong green tint, but you can see that the red stripes serve as an accent color.

After swimming in a pool with green lighting, the man who came up was wearing vermilion swimming trunks. (Talk about attention to detail!)

Furthermore, in the film, blue or light blue objects are intentionally inserted from time to time, and in Amélie's world, which is composed of "red (vermilion)" and "green," they feel like somewhat foreign colors, depicted as accents both visually and in terms of the story.
That is another point that I find truly skillful.

If you have the chance to watch "Amélie," I think the story becomes even more interesting if you pay attention to the colors, so please do!

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For me, these are the three films where the colors left a lasting impression.
Of course, there are many films I haven't seen, so I'm sure there are others, but there is a lot you don't notice unless you watch with intention.

While there are many films that depict beautiful landscapes and scenes, it is rare to come across a film that focuses on color throughout the entire work, so I hope to encounter such films again someday.

(Article on commercials that focus on color)

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