Certified Copy [Abbas Kiarostami] izione: Regno Unito] [Import]

Another classic from Juliette Binoche as we have come to expect.Well directed and great acting.

I like French films with English subtitles. I agree with previous review that the subtitles did not always work and that moments in the film are confusing in Italian in the cafe with some uncertainty as to what was going on. Not all the subtitles were visible to read and only one line was visible often where two were required to understand the flow of what was happening.I liked the acting. I agree with Juliet Binoche in that I did not like the statue for many of the same reasons she mentions in her feedback interview at the end of the cd.My copy arrived cracked and cd box broken and so I was disappointed at first instance. Upon watching the film I was innitially inspired and intrigued by what this film might have to say and offer. Within an hour of viewing everything one assumes has just happened becomes uncertain. It is like the second half of the film belonged to a film that had a different beginning, a different start than what was actually on film. For me some of the duplicity and open ending and non finite explanations perhaps did not enhance the film as the producer was hoping. I think it was more like two halves that did not 100% quite go together and that the perhaps and maybe allusions simply did not really go with what I had already seen previously.I admire Juliet Binoche's acting and her co-actor. Perhaps the very script was less than I was hoping for? By the end of the film I felt the final product was somewhat unfinished and unsatisfying. I have watched the film again and it is not a film that will be remembered as one of the top 10 French films I have ever seen.One very annoying aspect of this film is the words of Binoche's character are attacking of the male actor's character and this hostility only intensifies leading to the beginnings of a sore head by me the viewer by the time they are arguing at the table with the wedding party outside the window. It is a damning portrayal of a marriage that had gone sour or a fantasy of a relationship that was not going to come to fruition. I have issue with the plot and the fact that both characters are unsatisfied and more than just a bit frustrated and not brought closer together, not growing closer, rather pushing eachother apart. I do not agree that this is clever arty neveau film - rather badly put together film producing. I wanted to like this film but upon second viewing I was not won over by what was trying to be depicted.having sorted the subtitles the italian makes sense and the producer's bigger picture does infact work, i was previously wrong in my sentiment, apologies

Never seemed to go anywhere fast

With a deliberately ambiguous plot and a slow, even tediously slow at times delivery of the story, Certified Copy has given rise to a range of views, with praise from some and almost contempt from others.I am not sure exactly how I feel about this film. It has had me thinking about it since watching it the previous night. Singer, William Shimell puts in a good performance opposite the more experienced Juliette Binonche and the supporting cast and all the crew do a good job.It is easy to see why it has caused such varied reviews here on amazon. The trailer for the film (which I had seen on a different DVD) hints at a film that for me does not happen in the main feature, and although I can appreciate the difficulty in encouraging an audience to watch a film without giving too much of it away, it shouldn’t be dishonest. That may be a criticism of the trailer rather than the film but if this is a review for the DVD of Certifies Copy (which contains the trailer) I think it is reasonable to mention this point as I had seen the trailer on another DVD and was encourage by the trailer to purchace a DVD of Certified Copy. Abass Kiarostami, the director, even states that the beginning of the film will have much of its audience unhappy because of its style and yet the trailer suggests a more cinematically familiar and entertaining film.I think that ambiguity in a film, a novel, a play or fiction in general can be a good thing, but I am not sure about the way it was done in Certified Copy.

One of the finest works of Abbas Kiarostami, Certified Copy is a story of eternal love and understanding between man and woman. Set in beautiful Italy, it's a film-voyage showing relationship between two strangers pretending to be living together all their lives as husband and wife. But, these are only the roles they are taking, in order to bring back painful memories and reveal universal truth of marriage. Original and copy are in constant exchange, thus producing the tension and suffering, similar to that one experience in love and life. The performances of Juliette Binoche and William Shimell are stunning. Kiarostami shows delicate feelings with ease specific to great film authors.DVD contains film and trailer. It deserves more for next edition. Much more! Certified Copy [DVD ]

Reading through the reviews here on Amazon shows that "Certified Copy" has divided opinion very sharply. Apart from the people who couldn't see it through to the end (it's very naughty to lodge a review if you couldn't do that and I know Sam Goldwyn said his butt started to hurt when a movie got too long but that's no excuse!) there is a very wide divergence and that feature alone suggests this is a complex movie whose meaning can remain difficult to grasp.In fact this film yields up its many themes very subtly and slowly. Indeed it is one of those pictures that stays with you long after it has finished. For what it's worth I think "Certifed Copy" is at one level at least a ghost story. It's quite possible to believe that only one of the main characters is "real". I shall say no more but merely encourage anyone interested in film to try it. Strongly recommended.