Review of Blind Chance (1987) by Roger T — 09 Jan 2012

I'm a huge admirer of Kieslowski but like most of his earlier films this is just too talky to hold the attention fully, which means subtleties in the plot are likely to be missed because you're preoccupied by the subtitles, ending up confused. Which in a film that is deliberately opaque to begin with is not a good thing. The idea of three narrative strands, and how life can hinge on sometimes very minor decisions/events, is interesting and quite well executed. A better cast and more money to spend would doubtless have resulted in a better film.

The later rip-off Sliding Doors is way inferior, but Run Lola Run, on the other hand, has energy, wit, style, great pace, a charismatic leading actor and is a way superior film quite simply because it is entertaining. I realise Blind Chance doesn't set out to achieve the same, but unfortunately as a work of art it's not all that great either. While there are a few flashes of cinematic beauty it's mostly rather a grim documentary in its look and feel.