The Double Life of Veronique

Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Genre: Drama/Romance
Year: 1991

I had forgotten how beautiful Kieslowski could make his movies. Though I had, up to this point, only seen his “Trois Coleurs” series, the appeal was instantaneous. Given the samples I have seen, he seems to strike that chord between Terrence Malik, with his poetic visuals and Wong Kar-wai and his conceptual content, by marrying the two and acquiring a charming, warm style that is undeniably a treat to watch. Assuming of course that your variety of movies is along the veins of the more tranquil and not something like Die Hard 47. Truth be told this is the sort of film that will give the foreign films the reputation they now seem to carry: artistic, thought provoking, complicated and somewhat delirious. That being said, those are exactly the sort of qualities that drew me to the genre to begin with.

Kieslowski masterfully mixes in doses of subtle magic and the fantastic in this tale about a girl and a girl, one named Weronica and living in Poland, the other named Veronique and living in France, they also look exactly the same and though unaware of each other’s existence, the bond they feel towards each other is concrete. “I feel I am not alone in this world.” Weronica tells her father, who of course agrees with her, not fully understanding the connection his daughter has with a complete stranger on the other side of Europe. The fact is, Kieslowski argues, that it is entirely possible to be linked to a person one does not know and have your life affected by them.

Weronica is a singer, former musician who had to stop playing the piano when she was young due to an accident that rendered her hand a bit less accurate, but this hardly seems to matter, from the moment her lips part and the song is born from her core, her celestial voice is hypnotizing, something that awards her an grand opportunity at a contest for a soloist at a concert hall, regardless of her lack of experience performing. Veronique, for her part, smokes and is not a singer, but does teach music and is — ironically enough — drawn to the very same piece Weronica is singing.

They meet once, and to say they ‘meet’ is an over statement. In the middle of a student revolt in Krakow walking against the current of youthful restlessness, Weronica catches a glimpse of something entirely unexpected: herself, holding a camera, taking pictures like a tourist, boarding a bus that will separate them once more. She is left in the middle of the square, a static figure in the midst of chaos, trying to puzzle out the significance of the moment.

Missing from this film will be the easy answers. In fact, a number of scenes have been inserted into this film that prove to be head scratchers. The roles of certain characters are dubious, the significance of certain moments questionable and even the bond between Weronica and Veronique is constantly enigmatic. What could be a connection proves to be a coincidence, what might be a meaningless moment develops into an mysterious unveiling. What the connection is and how it affects a person’s life, that is what this film is about, without falling into the Hollywood trap of wanting to tie up every loose end. In fact, the original ending is so unresolved that for its American release, Weinstein from Miramax demanded a four shot addition (which of course wrecks the ‘perch on the edge with your eyes closed’ that the original contained).

Irene Jacob, who plays both the role of Weronica and Veronique, does an outstanding job in this film and the secondary cast is equally as impressive. The cinematography is artistic in a melancholic way, with a largely warm palette which adds to its highly emotional flair and true to Kieslowski fashion, there are shots scattered throughout this film that look like absolute works of art. Lastly, but by no means…leastly (?) (I am not sure that phrase works), is the unseen character, which will wrap itself about you with an iron grip. Much like Les Choristes or Pan’s Labyrinth, this film provides a score that transcends into something ethereal and beautifully haunting, to the point where it becomes in itself a driving force to the film.

This film is not for everyone, its nudity and sex may bother some, its slow pacing and artistic reach may roll the eyes of others and requirement for interpretation and examination on the part of the audience will likely tire the brains of another bunch. Mindless this is not, so if you are looking for a run of the mill romance, do not look for it here. Outside of that, this film is a gem, no doubt about it.

Rating:
Comment: Brief nudity and sexuality. Some adult content. Shot in Polish and French with English subtitles.