Comments on: The Double Life of Veronique

By: Tagged Again! « Time and Again

Tagged Again! « Time and Again — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:55:49 +0000

[...] 32.What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? The Double Life of Veronique. [...]

By: ruhi

ruhi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:47:33 +0000

@bap- I do feel that he overuses metaphors. He tries to attach meaning to every single frame and visual scene. I think it becomes a little too perfect to be true. For eg- Weronika dies while singing; so instinctively, Veronique gives up her music career. Their lives run parallel to each other (Something similar to what happened in Red where the young lawyer’s life is a mirror image of the older retired judge’s life).

I think this is a reflection of his inner belief that everything in life is metaphorical and has a higher meaning, even though we don’t realize it…pre-destined, pre-planned…deja vu? It happens to me often.

Still, he’s the only film maker to whom I’m drawn like this. I guess the metaphors work. I liked the visual distortion that he utilized in this movie. Do you remember the scene where weronika is traveling by train to Krakow? He uses this particular style there.

By: bApHoMEt

bApHoMEt — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:51:21 +0000

Do you sometimes feel that Kieslowski over-uses metaphors? I mean, do films have to be really cryptic to be great? The reason I love Kieslowki is not for his stories bu the way he tells them. Veronique is intruiging, but it’s the simplicity of the camera, the fluidity of the shots and the mystery that is Irene Jacob that really moves me. I dint really get interested in the metaphors of duality that Kieslowki really tries to bring in here.

p.s. Of course, as with much of Kieslowki’s work, I can always present a counter argument supporting the said metaphors.

By: ruhi

ruhi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:24:05 +0000

@Presti, Yes, it didn’t “blow me away” either. It was a little open-ended and that is what got me. But it was still a very good movie. I forgot to mention the scene where Weronika leans against a glass to feel its coolness and calm herself down…right before the last performance of her life. As usual, the music was brilliant.

By: prestidigitator

prestidigitator — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:17:25 +0000

Woah that was comprehensive. I did watch this a couple of weeks back and as much as I loved it…it didn’t blow me away. I don’t mean to say I didn’t like the film…I’m just saying Red is my Favorite Keislowski film.

Nice review btw.