Feelings are what link
people together, because the word «love» has the same meaning for everybody (Krzysztof
Kieślowski)
In 1995, Krzysztof
Kieślowski was invited to Oxford University and during the interview he was
asked about a role of culture. Krzysztof
Kieślowski said the following: «There are too many things in the world which
divide people, such as religion, politics, history, and nationalism. If culture
is capable of anything, then it is finding that which unites us all. And there
are so many things which unite people. It doesn't matter who you are or who I
am, if your tooth aches or mine, it's still the same pain».
Following this pattern, The
Director shot in 1991 «The Double Life of Véronique». The main characters are
two identical young women called Véronique, albeit one of the is the Polish and
other one is the French. After looking at the year of release and remembering
about politicized Polish cinema, you would expect a film about Polish
renaissance. Nevertheless, the film was not shot for the sake of another
political pamphlet.
The film starts with
depicting two little girls – Véroniques. For the first 30 minutes, the life of
the Polish Veronique is depicted: graduation from a Music College, romance,
visiting the aunt in Krakow, good auditioning and offer of a professional
choral career. One day, Veronique walks the streets of Krakow and sees in a bus
the identical young woman. After the moment, when Véronique had chosen art over
love, the film switches to the French Véronique.
«The Double Life of
Véronique» deals with the importance of choice in a fast-paced life. In the
film the choice is divided between two spheres – art or love? Despite the social
and economical differences of characters – Véronique from a rich France and Véronique
from a poor Poland; The Director shows that there are many things, outside the
spheres of money and politics, which unites the people. Those things cannot be
felt or sensed, but anyone can at least understand it by using the «tooth
metaphore».
In my opinion, The Director
also teases people, who try to make simple things look complicated; who are
trying to find the second meaning in everything. The doll theatre scene is illustrating.
The children are fascinated, because they can’t understand the forces which
move those dolls. At the same time, Véronique is trying to find the Muppet Master
and she succeeds; she can’t no more watch this spectacle as a child. The later
actions of French Véronique also could verify this opinion, because the only
question is «Why are you doing this»?
Watch «The Double Life of
Véronique» and, even better, watch it again. Perharps this film will also touch
something into you.
