Certified Copy

Juliet Binoche   w/d Abbas Kiarostami

This was a bewildering mind-fuck. Two characters meet at a talk, go off together as apparent strangers in awkward circumstances and slowly slide into the role of disillusioned married people striving unsuccessfully to re-kindle their relationship. Or maybe not.

We are never really clear on who these people are or how they are related. Perhaps they are meant to represent all couples and this film traces the arc of all relationships. Or perhaps they were play-acting for the early part of the story...or perhaps the later part. Nothing is resolved...we are left to parse it out on our own.

Both leads were excellent. Many outstanding director's touches ( car-cam, mirror shots). This was an intellectual puzzle, an intriguing enigma. A high order of intelligence and artistic vision on display here.
Fine casting - stars and supporting players. I particularly liked a scene between Binoche and an older woman at a cafe.

The kind of film that would never get made in hollywood.

8