Review of The Double Life of Véronique (1991) by Annelies S — 22 Dec 2009

The Double Life of Véronique remains one of his most beloved and celebrated works from the late, great Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski. It won the Best Actress gong at Cannes for Irène Jacob's delectable dual performance as two identical-looking women. Veronique and Veronika were born on the same day in different countries. . Though unknown to each other, the two women share an enigmatic, purely emotional bond. They are identical twins, they have much the same upbringing, and they seem somehow aware of the other's existence. Veronique is a professional singer, and Veronika is a talented amateur who, on a whim, tries out for an operetta and gets the part. If something bad happens to one of them, the other somehow realizes this and narrowly avoids the same fate.

The film is a ravishing, mysterious rumination on identity, love, and human intuition and a perfect example of a situation where a film doesn't have to make sense to be a compelling and wonderful film experience. Kieslowski focus in gorgeous reflections, colours, and movements. Aided by Slawomir Idziak's shimmering cinematography and Zbigniew Preisner's haunting, operatic score, Kieslowski creates one of cinema's most purely metaphysical works. The Double Life of Veronique is an unforgettable movie experience of feeling. A real masterpiece.