One film that you love is great. Film trilogies are the triple whammy. They tell a bigger, more expansive story.
A trilogy is defined as “a series of three dramas or literary compositions that, although each is in one sense complete, have a close mutual relationship, and form one theme or develop aspects of one basic concept.”
The list below encompasses all aspects of that definition. I single these trilogies out as favorites because all employ great storytelling. Some are visually stunning, some are surreal, some retell sweeping historical events and some are heartbreaking. All the makings of great films that I love to watch.
Here’s a revisiting of film trilogies that I have seen often, plus a few new ones.
In alphabetical order (warning: links may contain spoilers):
The Alexandria Trilogy | Director: Youssef Chahine
This autobiographical film trilogy may not represent the strongest films of Chahine’s career, but they serve as his love letter to cinema. Made later in his career, 1978-1989, the trilogy follows fictional filmmaker Yehia Mourad from his start to the end of his career. The films provide insights into Chahine's personal and artistic life as he struggles to balance his art with the compromises filmmaking require. Historical, fantastical and passionate work from an artist who truly loved the medium.
Alexandria… Why?
An Egyptian Story
Alexandria Again and Forever (starring Chahine)
The Apu Trilogy | Director: Satyajit Ray
This coming-of-age trilogy follows a free-spirited child from rural Bengal to a young urban student and ultimately as a man of the world. This trilogy placed Satyajit Ray and India firmly into international art-houses and won many awards. These beautiful, humane films were released in 1955, 1956 and 1959 respectively. Each film stands as its own unique journey of passage.
Pather Panchali (Song Of The Little Road)
Aparajito (The Unvanquished)
Apur Sansar (World of Apu)
The Before Trilogy | Director: Richard Linklater
Nearly two decades in the telling from 1995-2013, Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy is a languorous (as in dreamy) and real-time story about the ebb and flow of love and relationships through the passage of time. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy not only bring the beautiful characters of Jesse and Céline to life, but contribute to the story development and script as well. Having just rewatched this trilogy, it still feels timeless and true.
Before Sunrise
Before Sunset
Before Midnight
The Elements Trilogy | Director: Deepa Mehta
Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta’s reverse-chronological trilogy focuses on controversial social issues and reform in India. Released in 1996, Fire examines arranged marriages and homosexuality in contemporary India. Earth from 1998 covers the religious issues that caused India’s partition in 1947. Water, released in 2005, focuses on the mistreatment of widows in rural India in the 1930s. Mehta’s deeply moving stories – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes life-affirming – are rarely depicted on film. These are expertly told and fascinating films.
Fire
Earth
Water
Love (a/k/a Desire) Trilogy | Director: Wong Kar-wai
Missed opportunities, loneliness and longing intersect across the three films, made over a span of 14 years beginning in 1990. Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai’s stunning and unique visual style – dreamy saturated colors and sensual storytelling – make this unorthodox film cycle thrilling to experience. His films are totally unique. In the Mood for Love is a particular favorite film of mine, from many of his films.
Days of Being Wild (a/k/a The True Story of A Fei): the first collaboration of the director and cinematographer Christopher Doyle.
In the Mood for Love
2046
The Loneliness Trilogy | Director: Federico Fellini
A trio of Fellini’s more grounded works focuses on the hopes and survival of misfits and outsiders on the fringes of Italian society in the 1950s. In 1954’s La Strada, a young girl is sold to a cruel man by her family for food. A group of swindlers try to carve out a meager life in Il Bidone. Nights of Cabiria centers around a sensitive prostitute dreaming of a better life. Fellini’s wife, Giulietta Masina, is the beating heart of the trilogy shining especially in its most tragic turns, and particularly with her performances in La Strada and Nights of Cabiria.
La Strada
Il Bidone
Nights of Cabiria
The Orphic Trilogy | Director: Jean Cocteau
Accomplished avant-garde artist, poet, novelist, playwright and illustrator, Cocteau turned to filmmaking in his early 40s. The Blood of A Poet was released in 1930 as an examination of the creative process – filled with surreal visuals and eccentric camera tricks. Followed in 1940 by Orpheus, a modern retelling of the Greek myth, Cocteau turns his artistry to the underworld. By 1960 in Testament of Orpheus, Cocteau stars as an artist nearing the end of his life living within the fictional world of his creative output. Orpheus is likely the most cohesive from a formal filmmaking viewpoint, but the trilogy is a visual feast and an insight into the workings of an artist’s mind.
Blood of a Poet
Orpheus
Testament of Orpheus
Three Colors Trilogy | Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
The colors of the French flag. Kieslowski loosely based each film on one of the three political ideals of the French Republic: liberty, equality, and fraternity. Set in Paris (Blue and White) and Geneva (Red), each film has its own unique story, but seen as a trilogy feels quite operatic – shifting gears from tragedy to comedy to romance. It’s also an enigmatic set – seemingly grounded in contemporary life, but also feeling otherworldly. Released from 1993-1994, I saw each film in its theatrical run. When I return to the trilogy from time to time, I find that I prefer a different film each time and rethink the connections that wind through them.
Blue
White
Red
Some of my favorite more popular trilogies have been reviewed, critiqued, dissected and written about on every level for decades:
The Godfather Trilogy (celebrating its 50th anniversary this year) with its iconic characters, dialogue and haunting theme.
The Star Wars Trilogy (the originals – episodes four, five and six) with its iconic characters, dialogue and epic theme.
That's a wrap on a lot of great viewing. Treat yourself to one or all.
What are your favorite film trilogies?
Photo composite + design: © 2022 Janet Giampietro | Original photo by Augusto Oazi on Unsplash. | Images of Apu Trilogy, Before Trilogy, In The Mood for Love, Orphic Trilogy and Three Colors from the Criterion Collection. | La Strada poster for sale here.
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