Two identical women, strangers with the same talent for music, the same heart condition and surprisingly similar lives; one undeniable feature of this film is its uniqueness. In a refreshing divergence from many of today’s films, The Double Life of Veronique is unpredictable and original.

The two women live in different countries – France and Poland – but have unbelievable similarities both physically and in their lives. The women both sense that they are not alone; they can always sense someone else with them. A tragic event and the discovery of her ‘double’ propels Veronique to change the emphasis of her life.

She becomes intertwined in a weird courtship with a stranger. He sends her bizarre gifts; a shoelace, an empty cigar box, and a cassette tape, none of which seem to have any major significance. The most comic scene occurs when the new boyfriend wants to know everything about Veronique. So, she gets up and tips the entire contents of her handbag onto the bed, giving him a look that says “it’s all there”. For the majority of the film, drama overrides comedy.

The cinematography is good, though I would argue that sepia tones are overused. While they are used to good effect in some scenes their proliferation seems to diminish their affect and is unnecessary. Irene Jacobs does well to act out both parts; there are subtle, important, distinctions between the two women that she captures superbly.—Kate Chapman