Poland’s Krzysztof Kieślowski originally got his start making documentaries to explore the plight of everyday citizens. Eventually, though, he realized that if he really wanted to portray life truthfully, he would ironically need to switch to fiction filmmaking. This culminated in his final work, a trilogy of films inspired by the French revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Blue kicks off the trilogy with a searing and beautifully rendered portrait of grief, as a woman (an absolutely radiant Juliette Binoche) tries to move on after the death of her husband and daughter, and in the process, becomes increasingly cold and isolated from everyone else. But even as she strives to liberate herself from all human connection, grief continues to slowly work its way in.

Watching Blue is akin to a religious experience thanks to Binoche’s striking performance, Kieślowski’s assured direction, Sławomir Idziak’s lush cinematography, and Zbigniew Preisner’s lovely soundtrack.