Certified Copy: A Masterpiece or Just a Puzzle?

So, I watched Certified Copy again, the Abbas Kiarostami movie with Juliette Binoche and the charming William Shimell. I’m sitting here, sipping my coffee—swedish style, with a cinnamon bun on the side, obviously—and honestly, I’m still a bit baffled. This film doesn’t give you answers. It just pokes and prods you, like that annoying mosquito that won’t leave you be during Swedish summer, right?

Let’s get into it. Kiarostami, that genius behind the camera, has crafted something that’s as confusing as it is beautiful. Binoche, she’s a class act. There’s something so raw and real about her performance, every flicker of emotion feels like a whisper from an old friend. Then there’s Shimell, who, despite being an opera singer, somehow doesn’t belt out any arias, much to my surprise!

The film plays with reality and illusion. It’s like sitting at Gamla Stan on a sunny day, not sure if a painter captured the colors or if it’s just your imagination. And oh, my night at this little bistro in Stockholm comes to mind. Mid-conversation, the lights dimmed, and for a moment, I was caught between real life and a scene from a Bergman film. This flick kind of does that—it blurs the line, makes you question what’s real.

Yet, for all its poetic moments, it did drag a bit in parts. Felt like waiting for a train that never arrives. You know, when you check the clock every five minutes but time just stalls.

But this movie did leave thoughts lingering, like the scent of freshly baked kardemumma bread on a crisp morning. Is it about love, identity, art? Maybe, probably, who knows? Kiarostami’s crafted a piece that stays with you, like an unsolved mystery lurking in the corners of your mind.

Certified Copy, does it leave you satisfied? I’m not sure. But curious? Absolutely.

Check the trailer below