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Product Description
Two young women, both called Veronica, seem to share a single existence, albeit in different countries. Polish singer Weronika sees her French double, Veronique, taking her picture at a political rally but dies the next day. In France, Veronique feels a strange sense of loss but it takes many twists of fate to help her discover why - and even then the outcome is unclear. One of the late Krzysztof Kieslowski's more oblique films, featuring an award winning performance by Irene Jacob.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C DVD: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby DTS 5.1 ), Polish ( Dolby DTS 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Documentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Short Film, SYNOPSIS: Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski, creator of the masterful THREE COLORS TRILOGY, presents this enigmatic, philosophical drama about duality in the modern world. Weronika (Irene Jacob), a young Polish woman, embraces each aspect of her life with zeal. She has many friendships, sexual and platonic, and a variety of interests. A serious heart ailment, however, debilitates her periodically, but she refuses to let it hold her back. On her way to a singing contest, she sees a woman who is her spitting image. Weronika tries to catch the look-alike's attention, but fails. The second woman, the French Veronique (Jacob), is also a gifted singer yet she rejects this talent to teach at a primary school. Eventually she, too, senses the presence of another force in her life, but it isn't until Alexandre (Philippe Volter), an artist, appears that she finally recognizes this for certain. Kieslowski's superb film is a lyrical study of the divided but inextricably linked worlds of Eastern and Western Europe, featuring two remarkable, soul-bearing performances by the gorgeous Jacob. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globes, ...The Double Life of Veronique (1991) ( La double vie de Véronique ) ( Podwojne zycie Weroniki ) (Blu-Ray)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
By Jason Parkes
#1 HALL OF FAME
Format:DVD
Following the release of just about everything else the late great Krzystof Kieslowski made on DVD ('Blind Chance', 'Camera Buff', 'No End', 'The Scar', 'A Short Film About Killing', 'A Short Film About Love', 'The Dekalog' & 'The Three Colours Trilogy') it seemed odd that these key work that came between 'The Dekalog' & 'Three Colours' did not appear (I expect this was down to the dual identity of the film?).
Released in 1991, 'La Double Vie De Veronique'/'Podwonjne Zycie Werokiki' found Kieslowski working outside of Poland for the first time after the Iron Curtain had fallen. Due to the fact it can't be read as a political metaphor as his preceding work post 'Camera Buff' it confounded many - unlike 'Dekalog' & 'Three Colours' it couldn't be directly related to The Ten Commandments or the French Tri-Colour. In that way 'The Double Life of Veronique' feels closest to Tom Twyker's adaptation of Kieslowski/Piesiewicz's 'Heaven' which was filmed posthumously (& part of an uncompleted trilogy the two Krzystof's were working on based on 'The Divine Comedy').
The film begins in Poland as Weronika (Irene Jacob) a singer has portent of something to come - a key scene finds her double Veronique (Irene Jacob) take a photo of Weronika. Shortly after, Weronika collapses at a concert and dies - two scenes here are extremely powerful, one where Weronika has an out of body experience near a bench and the grim shot from her grave. The film shifts to France, and from death we meet Veronique once more in the throes of passion with her lover.
Veronique is not unlike Weronika in that she physically resembles her, has a beautiful singing voice and suffers from a similar heart condition.
... Read more ›33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By L. Davidson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I think that "The Double Life of Veronique" is not a film to be over-analysed as some reviewers seem to have done , but one simply to be enjoyed for what it is; a poetic and lyrical love story, filmed beautifully and illuminated throughout by the radiant Irene Jacobs, in the role of Weronika/Veronique. The film is in two halves; the first half is in Poland , but it then switches suddenly to Paris after the Polish Weronika has a chance encounter with her identical lookalike Veronique, with whom she shares many other similarities as well. This film,with it's lighter themes of love and fate, is somewhat more uplifting than many of Kieslowski's other ,more downbeat, films about death ,broken relationships and unhappiness and as a result is a more enjoyable one to watch.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Veronique is an endlessly fascinating film - thought-provoking, moving, and extraordinarily beautiful. Kieslowski never dictates to his audiences, leaving them room for their own imaginative worlds to interact with his work.. he provides inspiration but not instruction. I find in this film an exploration of the human condition - the desire to know and be known by another, the wish to be understood without question, and (perhaps) the futility of that desire.
Irene Jacob, in the bilingual double title role, is luminous, communicating more in a glance or a sigh than pages of dialogue could provide. Suddenly bereft of her feeling of not being alone in the world, she seeks someone else to know her, thinking she may have found that intuitive connection with a mysterious puppeteer, but there is little room for certainty in this imaginative, emotive, philosophical film.
Cinematographically, it is superb, every shot a glowing construction of high art, and the soundtrack goes straight to the heart. I originally saw it in the cinema and was thunderstruck. I WISH they'd release a DVD, as my video tape is wearing thin! I cannot recommend it too highly.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of Krzysztof Kieslowski's finest films is "The Double Life of Veronique" ("La Double vie de V'ronique"). It's not just a philosophical, arty film, but a subtle and unique tale full of Kieslowski's directorial magic, and gives Ir'ne Jacob a chance to shine in her most challenging role.
There are two women, the Polish Weronika and the French Veronique (both played by Ir'ne Jacob). They have never met, never spoken, and do not know that the other exists. They share the same losses and the same health. Weronika is a singer, and Veronique is taking singing lessons. But their lives and souls are bound together, and their personalities are yin-yang opposites, one practical and one a stargazer.
What is more, each has the strange feeling that she is, somehow, not alone in the world. One night, Weronika dies onstage while singing. Suddenly in France, Veronique is stricken with a strange feeling, and stops taking her lessons. Weronika has died, but she still lives. Soon she begins to explore, searching for the truth about her double life, and a strange puppeteer who somehow is a link between both girls.
"Double Life of Veronique" is one of those rare films that just begs to be analyzed. Is it about being puppets in some enormous scheme of things? About fate? Sacrifice? Love? One woman's soul in two bodies? Political symbolism? Or is it simply about some mysterious dimension of the spiritual? The symbols and metaphors can be unwound any which way, and in the end they all work. Even the ending is ambiguous -- is it happy, or sad?
Krzysztof Kieslowski's direction is impeccable. His use of light and shadow, and the atmospheric music, make "Double Life" practically a work of art.... Read more ›
There are two women, the Polish Weronika and the French Veronique (both played by Ir'ne Jacob). They have never met, never spoken, and do not know that the other exists. They share the same losses and the same health. Weronika is a singer, and Veronique is taking singing lessons. But their lives and souls are bound together, and their personalities are yin-yang opposites, one practical and one a stargazer.
What is more, each has the strange feeling that she is, somehow, not alone in the world. One night, Weronika dies onstage while singing. Suddenly in France, Veronique is stricken with a strange feeling, and stops taking her lessons. Weronika has died, but she still lives. Soon she begins to explore, searching for the truth about her double life, and a strange puppeteer who somehow is a link between both girls.
"Double Life of Veronique" is one of those rare films that just begs to be analyzed. Is it about being puppets in some enormous scheme of things? About fate? Sacrifice? Love? One woman's soul in two bodies? Political symbolism? Or is it simply about some mysterious dimension of the spiritual? The symbols and metaphors can be unwound any which way, and in the end they all work. Even the ending is ambiguous -- is it happy, or sad?
Krzysztof Kieslowski's direction is impeccable. His use of light and shadow, and the atmospheric music, make "Double Life" practically a work of art.... Read more ›
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my all time most loved films!
There is an atmosphere of spiritual beauty that infuses this film for me. Yes it is lovely to look at. Irene Jacob captivates with her uniquely tranquil presence. Read more
Published 20 days ago by perfectionista
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hypnotic, Subtle, Oblique, Exquisite
Four words that, of course, refer to pretty much everything that master film-maker Krzysztof Kieslowski put his hand to over his tragically short career. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Keith M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Puppets without strings
It's difficult to be concise about a film I know better than almost any other, but I must adhere to my self-imposed one-paragraph rule and resist the temptation to produce a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Dariush Alavi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reality is stranger than fiction.
I first saw this movie in the early nineties in the cinema and my opinion hasn't really changed since then: this is an excellent semi low budget flick which takes you on a... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2010 by Dirk Sabbe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extraordinary and imbued with longing
I should start with a confession. This is my favorite film and has been since I first saw it many years ago. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2010 by Adam Frankenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, on Blu-ray
Finally on Blu-Ray. this isn't the highest quality transfer I've ever seen but it is much better than VHS! Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2010 by G. Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 stars
Veronique is unique
Being a long time admirer of the work of Krzysztof Kieslowski I was very pleased to be able to get this Blu Ray version of Veronique. Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by Muziblitz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent BD
This is technically an excellent BD disc with a competent transfer encoded at high bit rate and lossless sound. Highly recommended if you like the film. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by M. Hafner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful transfer of a favourite movie
I've bought this movie three times now. Despite this Blu Ray version not having all the extras of the Criterion NTSC DVD, in my opinion it has the most beautiful transfer of all... Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2010 by Iain Hinchliffe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive!
I've always been a fan of Kieslowski's films, but this is a very impressive work of art. Very moving, beautiful shots and a moody score by Preisner. Read more
Published on 29 July 2009 by F. Rodenbrug
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