Mediocre as a movie, a trite take on a tired sentiment, unredeemed by lush visuals (for which the photographer & the set decorator, not the director, should be credited). It would have been quite interesting if a post-socialist Polish director had made a sharper political statement on the integration & expansion of the European market (in which the French Tricolor -- Liberty, Equality, & Fraternity -- fades out & the American Red, White, & Blue fades in). That would have been a fitting artistic farewell to "national cinemas" & greeting to "European cinema." Alas, it was not to be....
Yoshie -----------
I am at a disadvantage here, because I saw it five or so years ago and only once. But in defence of Red, whoever gets the credit, the antithesis of fraternity as death of spirit, death of unity works very well within the piece. There is no there there in either a sad and bloodless bureaucratic socialism (the judge?) or its frenzied electric other, a metastasized capitalism (fashion industry?)---merely differing re-animations of death.
What a grim comedy for eastern europe to break open the old cell walls only to find a machine infested nightmare beyond. I bet Matrix was popular in the East. They were actually protected against an even worse world.
Chuck Grimes