The definition of “certified copy” states it is a copy of a primary document, which has on it an endorsement or certificate that it is a true copy of the primary document. It does not certify that the primary document is genuine, only that it is a true copy of the primary document.
I must admit I am not overly familiar with director Abbas Kiarostami except for two outstanding films, “Through The Olive Trees” and “Taste Of Cherry”, along with his screenplay for “White Balloon”. Having these films on a resume, as well as the lovely Juliette Binoche (Color Trilogy, English Patient), gives me high hopes for the final product. The film starts with British writer James Miller (first time actor William Shimell) in Tuscany to give a talk about his new book, entitled "Certified Copy", which argues that, in art, issues of authenticity are irrelevant, because every reproduction is itself an original and vice versa. In the audience is a French antiques dealer (Binoche) who has attended with her 11 year old son. She is there to have Miller autograph some copies but leaves early because her son is antsy and hungry. She leaves he number with Miller's translator who later meets up with her at a shop.
The two of them go for a ride, visit a museum, hit a café and finally a motel. OK, this might sound like a boring chick flick, but Kiarostami brings in something a little more interesting to the relationship. As the movie moves along, their relationship builds in an unique way. At the Reading, they are strangers but as they work there way through the movie, they start acting as new lovers until they end up at the hotel where we are told they have been married for 15 years. You can interpret this anyway you want but it seems that as the day go on, the relationship progresses. So morning is the dawning of a relationship and the evening is the later stages. The couple’s conversations deal with complaints about a rebellious son to falling asleep on their anniversary.
The film treats the relationship and time itself with a definite unreality so don’t expect a truly linear film but sit back and enjoy Binoche and Shimell’s chemistry throughout the film. Binoche is extra fun as throughout the film she effortlessly moves between English, French and Italian as is able to showcase her comic side which we don’t see often enough. Whether they are new lovers and long time married doesn’t matter by the time we reach the end as we have two nicely defined characters showing us the many phases of relationships in this atypical romance.
So whether this relation is genuine, we do know that the feelings are true. My grade is an A-.
