STORY STUDY - CRITERION WEEK - 359. “The Double Life of Veronique”

This month, the topics revolved around the theme of connections with other people and people who might look and behave similar, but live very different lives.

We conclude the month with The Double Life of Veronique.

Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, and written by Kieślowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz, the film is about two women, both played by Irène Jacob, whose lives are loosely connected.

The story starts off with Polish choir singer Weronika who has won a singing audition. However, at the night of her first convert, she collapses and dies mid-performance. Her story takes up the first act.

The rest of the film shifts to Véronique, a French music teacher in Paris. At the time of Weronika’s death, she feels sadness. She falls in love with a puppeteer, Alexandre, when she and her class watch his performance.

Alexandre is attracted to her as well, sending her a cassette tape filled with city sounds, and a piece of music by composer Van den Budenmayer, the same music that Weronika was singing at her concert.

The two women never meet each other, but they are aware of each other existence just for a brief second. And in case you’re wondering, no, they are not twins separated at birth.

While there is no explanation on how these women are connected, the film makes a vague explanation using Alexandre puppets. However, it’s never confirmed, and it’s the audience who decides whether or not that’s a satisfying explanation, never the characters. After all, they never met Weronika, and they certainly don’t know she died.

There are times when the film feels like a thriller; the way a scene builds tension and when Véronique feels like she’s being watched, but it is ultimately a romantic drama.

And that’s where the only problem I have with this film: the romance is unbelievable. Oh, it’s not because the actors aren’t doing a good job making the audience think they like each other; it’s the fact that she falls in love with him so easily after he manipulated her.

Alexandre sent the cassette to Véronique, hoping she would piece together where the sounds came from, and that she would go there and he would meet her. He did all this as an experiment for a new book he’s writing. Véronique is naturally upset at what he did, but he does ask for her forgiveness, which she does. And yes, they do have sex the next day.

I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing, or a movie romance thing, but if that were to happen in real life, it would be completely unacceptable.

It also doesn’t help that the film can be quite melodramatic. The acting from everyone comes off as either too whimsical or too pretentious.

The Double Life of Veronique has an interesting premise, but it takes its time to tell its story. It’s very atmospheric, and it revels in it, so it’ll take some patience, especially on a first viewing.

The symbolism of the puppets as an explanation of the connection between Weronika and Véronique is very clear and concise, but it’s up to you if you accept it or not.