Adverse film critics accused it of a lack of distinctive. The film stars irene jacob, first as veronika, a student in krakow, and then as. Irene jacob is enrapturing in her youth and beauty. At its simplest, the double life of veronique is a beauty to behold and magnificent to listen to, it is quite simply one of the best in terms of setting a mood or evoking emotion through the cinematography and soundtrack and for that alone it deserves a whole lot of praise. Jan 30, 2017 the double life of veronique 1991 director. Red, which received oscar nominations in three categories, but here, the reasons will be presented why the double life of veronique is.
The double life of veronique nr by hal hinson washington post staff writer december, 1991 krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique has a fragile, opiated atmosphere that. It invites analysis, yet it also encourages us, in its creation of a nebulous. Two vibrating strings on a quantum level seem to be in synchronicity or are they in two places at once. The double life of veronique 1991 a poem that i do not. I remember the first time i watched the film, i was impressed by its technical accomplishments but was nonplussed by its. Visually, the double life of veronique is wholly dependent on the fluctuating textures of light and dark, mixing in artificial shades of color to complete the portrait. This film is love, sex, death, sensuality, beauty, parenthood, mystery, the cinema, it is all these things at once. The sheer, heartstopping beauty of irene jacob is what shines out, firstly, from this welcome revival of krzysztof kieslowskis great movie from. Fantasy, emotion, and the unsolved mysteries of double. Irene jacob, through a looking glass in the double life of veronique. The first shot of krzysztof kieslowskis 1991 film the double life of veronique is a pan across a nighttime cityscape, seen through a murky.
East european cinema during the communist era was with some exceptions a consciously political cinema although within the former soviet union itself films could be. The double life of veronique is impossible to capture in words without making the film sound hokey, dull or a mixture of both. The first fourminute mile is run, and then it becomes common. Both weronika and veronique are in a relationship or in the process of finding their romantic partners throughout the film. Podwojne zycie weroniki is a 1991 film by krzysztof kieslowski, the director of blind chance and the three colors trilogy. When discussing the double life of veronique, a lot of people make the mistake of approaching the film more from a metaphysical sense. The double life of veronique 1991 soundtrack alexandre. If double life is arguably only half as rewarding as some of kieslowskis other films, then it remains an indelible entry in an outstanding career. But with those three distorted opening shots, kieslowski attunes audiences to an altered reality, where things are stretched, squashed, and colored in strange wayswhere theyre present, but obscured. Refracted reflections take center stage in the film, a poetic. The double life of veronique 1991 krzysztof kieslowski plot this film has an extremely intriguing plot that will leave the audience reeling with questions once the film ends. Sep 19, 2009 the double life of veronique is a film that demands an understanding of what is being seen, without it the film is reduced to an incoherent plot, irrational sequences and monotonously slow sense of pacing. From simply being a drama film about two lookalikes, the double life of veronique slowly turns into a meditation about distant duality and the spiritual and emotional connection between two.
Blue, which is breathtaking and won him the best film award at venice film festival, or three colors. It tells the story of two women called weronika and veronique, from poland and france respectively. Nov 24, 1991 the double life of veronique was part of the recent new york film festival. In scene above the main character weronika sees a woman veronique who looks exactly like her.
Analyses were in major part based on the question of why the film was allegedly more recognised in the west rather than in poland and that it. When kieslowski repurposes motifs throughout the film, its not just so that the audience can make heads or tails of a. The double life of veronique isnt a didactic film, mostlyit swims in a sea of dreamy, intensely colored images and emotiondriven associations, and lets viewers draw their own conclusions. Yes, a lot of what makes the film compelling are the ideas surrounding the notion of identity and the soul, metaphysical concepts, but to purely explore these ideas in the film is to neglect how much of the film is a sensory experience. The double life of veronique is a film that demands an understanding of what is being seen, without it the film is reduced to an incoherent plot, irrational sequences and monotonously slow sense of pacing. How else to explain the ability of a frenchpolish film with a nonsensical plot. A new life experience is in the air today, a perception that explodes the form of the linear narrative and renders life as a multiform flow. A double life is a 1947 film noir which tells the story of an actor whose mind becomes affected by the character he portrays. Up to the domain of the hard sciences quantum physics and its multiplereality interpretation. Film analysisthe double life of veronique krzysztof. Double life of veronique by krzysztof kieslowski irene jacob. It has the shape of something manufactured to fit a coproduction.
Gateway drugs is a monthly film series thats looking to get you hooked on some of the cinemas great auteurs. As per the widespread opinion of the films supporters, it pertained to the elusive dimension of human existence. Double life is so rich as a sensory experience that makes you contemplate the. Theyre both lefthanded they both like to walk barefoot and without knowing it they seem to. Two vibrating strings on a quantum level seem to be in synchronicity or are they in two.
While alive, weronicka slowly becomes aware of her potential through the same type of shared resonance veronique feels so strongly later in the film. The double life of veronique retains the kind of mystery that subsists when the search for meaning and shape is undertaken with the seriousness and pleasure of game playing. Georgia brown declared in the village voice, anything i say about the film is merely a labored minuet danced around my own ecstatic response. Written by kieslowski and krzysztof piesiewicz, the film explores the themes of identity, love, and human intuition through the characters of weronika, a polish choir soprano, and her double, veronique, a french music teacher. This film could pass for a thinlyveiled scifi labeling. In fact, for a film about a double, in which one might feel alienated and distant, kieslowskis film is increasingly intimate. Just like a typical kieslowski film, the double life of veronique appears as if little to nothing is going to happen and as if the main characters feelings are operating within. Double life takes place first in poland, kieslowskis homeland. Jan 09, 2016 or maybe, as in richard ayoades the double, the real fear is staring eye to eye at the person you could have been.
Podwojne zycie weroniki is a 1991 frenchpolishnorwegian drama film directed by krzysztof kieslowski and starring irene jacob. The clips used are heavily edited and most of them narrated over top of, showing only amounts that are. Metaphysical equation in the double life of veronique. Im sure there are probabilities of extended metaphors within this piece, the relationship between eastern and western europe or kieslowskis coming journey from the polish cinema world to france, but frankly those pieces are less interesting than the actual film. Instead, the double life of veronique allows the soulful movement of its mystery to sweep our minds into blissful contemplation. Kieslowskis most beautiful film to date but also, in its way, his most opportunistic. Oct 04, 2016 it could easily be claimed that the finest kieslowskis accomplishment is three colors. I was stuck in a sort of trance while watching this, as beautifully photographed scenes seemed to follow one after the other for the film s entirety. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film. Brought to you by amy young and ashley naftule, the folks behind the prizefighting kangaroo film podcast, gateway drugs will screen a film from a different director each month. When krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique was first screened at. Feb 01, 2011 this essay was originally published in the booklet accompanying the 2006 dvd release of the double life of veronique. Anda bisa nonton full film nya di sini dan tentu saja film the double life of veronique 1991 sub indo nya sudah kami lengkapi juga untuk kenyamanan pengunjung web kami. The double life of veronique is a 1991 frenchpolishnorwegian drama film directed by krzysztof kieslowski and starring irene jacob.
The first section of the film follows weronika irene jacob, a young singer whose life is full of the romances and. The double life of veronique cinematography typical. Those familiar with polish director krzysztof kieslowskis later three colors trilogy of blue, white. The point is examining what happens to us, what this film does to us as we watch it, and how we find ourselves in our interpretation of it. Feb 14, 2017 secondly, love gives people hope and courage to move forward in life. The double life of veronique begins in poland with weronika, a girl who is an untrained but extremely gifted singer. Veroniques section of the film follows her as she plays a game of cat and.
Nov 12, 2017 for cinematography analysis i picked movie called the double life of veronique 1991. The double life of veronique 1991 is in the traditional kieslowski mold of symbolism, mystery, irony, and artful imagery. It does this above all with the face of irene jacob, who plays a polish woman named veronica, and a french woman named veronique. The dizzying hall of mirrors that is the double life of veronique by tasha robinson. For cinematography analysis i picked movie called the double life of veronique 1991. Georgia brown declared in the village voice, anything i say about the film is merely a labored minuet danced. The dialogue is scarce and rarely does it involve any sort of exposition. I was really intrigued by its poetic and romantic way of portraying love and the spiritual connection between weronika, a polish singer, and veronique, a french music teacher. Or maybe, as in richard ayoades the double, the real fear is staring eye to eye at the person you could have been. The dizzying hall of mirrors that is the double life of veronique. Apr 03, 2009 15 videos play all the double life of veronique 1991 soundtrack clovertripp vivaldi violin concerto in e minor, rv278 guiliano carmignola duration.
Weronika and veronique are two young women in poland and france, both singers, the same age and physically the same in every respect. Weronika irene jacob and veronique irene jacob are two female doppelgangers born on the same day but living completely separate lives in different countries, unaware of the others existence. The double life of veronique was part of the recent new york film festival. It is as if the film s beauty will be sullied or the illusion broken by attempting to explain and rationalise its unique and surprising power. I was stuck in a sort of trance while watching this, as beautifully photographed scenes seemed to follow one after the other for the film. The double life of veronique aroused a lot of controversy when it came to its message. Just like a typical kieslowski film, the double life of veronique appears as if little to nothing is going to happen and as if the main characters feelings are operating within the confines of. The double life of veronique 1991 krzysztof kieslowski. The double life of veronique 1991 creative criticism. It won palme dor in cannes for its stunning cinematography by slawomir idziak. Aided by slawomir idziaks shimmering cinematography, kieslowski creates one of cinemas most mystical and purely metaphysical works, exploring the themes of duality, superstitions, presentiments, intuition, and dreams. Krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique on. Still, the double life of veronique doesnt exactly match either explanation perfectly. There is no other film as warm and rich and so compellingly human as the double life of veronique, it is like a.
Film analysisthe double life of veronique krzysztof kieslowski 1991 it a very touching film for me. This is the heart of the double life of veronique, and yet the film is so much more than this. The first shot of krzysztof kieslowskis 1991 film the double life of veronique is a pan across a nighttime cityscape, seen through a murky haze of smog. The dizzying hall of mirrors that is the double life of. Krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique 1991 does us the favor of not supplying any explanation for itself, and is not even very clear about what actually happens. But with those three distorted opening shots, kieslowski attunes audiences to an altered reality, where things are stretched, squashed, and colored in. Sep 07, 2017 the first veronique is a young polish singer. Like all his later films, it explores metaphysical and ethical issues. Krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique on criterion bluray. Mar 18, 2006 the double life of veronique is the 1991 movie that marked krzysztof kieslowskis transition from his realistic, political movies to a mystically patterned, selfconsciously poetic cinema. It is important to resist the temptation to figure out every last detail of the double life of veronique, the mysterious and poetic new film by krzysztof kieslowski.
Feb 01, 2011 when krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique was first screened at cannes, in 1991, the critical reception was rapturous. The late krzysztof kieslowski was one of the most overrated of european filmmakers and few films demonstrate the drawbacks in his approach more than the double life of veronique 1991, regarded by many to be his best film. Criterions 1080p transfer achieves this nicely, bringing more resolution to some dimly lit scenes filtering dual perspectives simultaneously. The two women do not know each other, and yet they share a mysterious and emotional bond that transcends language and geography. Nigel andrews of the financial times commented, i believe we are being hypnotized in the double life of.
Film analysis the double life of veronique krzysztof kieslowski 1991 2142017 0 comments it a very touching film for me. It could easily be claimed that the finest kieslowskis accomplishment is three colors. It explores significant differences in the experiences of two women, roles played by the same actress, presented in the film as identical in appearance, living in. The double life of veronique is the story of two young women who are in some mysterious and irresolvable way the same woman leading two different yet interconnected lives. Krzysztof kieslowskis the double life of veronique. What i love about this film is its willingness to be something strange and surreal, while maintaining its elegance and believability overall. The double life of veronique is a sensual experience first and foremost, and though were going to get into its symbols, politics, and metaphysics, kieslowski gives the impression that he doesnt want viewers to get stuck on any of those matters in the course of actually watching the movie. In fact, for a film about a double, in which one might feel alienated and distant, kieslowskis film. Especially for veronique, love leads her to the cafe where the puppeteer, the person she loves, has been waiting.
Ronald colman won the academy award for best actor for his performance in this film. The second half takes place in paris, which served as kieslowskis adopted home while he made this film, along with his grand finale, the three colors trilogy. In paris there is another identical looking girl named veronique. As the double life of veronique turns more incandescent and disjointed, it becomes clear kieslowski isnt interesting in the specific machinations of narrative or the idea of forward momentum, but of hypnotic stasis in a glowing temporal space. A crying shame, and somewhat suprising given the directors canonisation by the. The parts do not quite fit, and anyway this is not a puzzle to be assembled. The double life of veronique 1991 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Nonton movie the double life of veronique 1991 sub indo. It is directed by george cukor, with screenplay by ruth gordon and garson kanin. It is about two identical women, one who lives in poland and the other in france. Adverse film critics accused it of a lack of distinctive line of meaning, avoidance and feigned deepness, too much like a fairy tale. There is no other film as warm and rich and so compellingly human as the double life of veronique, it is like a fond story remembered through the years.