The Double Life of Veronique

Podwójne życie Veroniki, 1991, 98 min.

The Double Life of Veronique (1991)

Production

Director Krzysztof Kieslowski
Screenplay Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Cinematography Slawomir Idziak
Music Zbigniew Preisner
Art Direction Patrice Mercier
Producer(s) Leonardo de la Fuente

Cast

Weronnika/Veronique Irene Jacob
Alexandre Philippe Volter
Weronika’s Father Wladyslaw Kowalski
Veronique’s Father Claude Duneton
Aunt Halina Gryglaszewska
Voice Teacher Kalina Jedrusik
Conductor Aleksander Bardini
Story

The first of his films to be made in the West, Véronique features Irène Jacob in a double role as two women, born worlds apart, both constantly haunted by the feeling that they are not alone. When one of them dies unexpectedly, the other is deeply saddened and left questioning her motivations and relationships. A haunting meditation on chance and interconnectedness, the film is less driven by narrative than anything Kieslowski had done before and more of a poetic reflection intent on showcasing mood and tone. For her subtle performance, the stunningly beautiful Jacob won a Best Actress award at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.