Certified Copy

Certified Copy was the first feature Kiarostami directed outside of Iran. It relates strongly to the European auteur-tradition, with Rosselinis Journey to Italy (1954) as an important back-drop and inspiration. The film follows a couple, a British author and a French antiques dealer, who meet in a beautiful Tuscan village, where the man has been invited to hold a lecture. But what appears to be a straight-forward narrative soon turns into something else entirely, a fascinating exploration into the nature of truth and illusion, art and reality. In typical Kiarostami fashion, truths and fiction blend into one another until both seem mutually indiscernable. Philosophical - and perhaps even political - issues shine through the poetic use of dialogue and allegorical storytelling. Beautifully shot and and acted to perfection by Juliet Binoche and William Shimell, Certified Copy is an enigmatic and thought-provoking film, meant to be watched again and again.