Certified Copy review

Well, this was a bit of a strange one. Certified Copy stars Juliette Binoche and William Shimnell, it’s directed by Abbas Kiarostami, it’s set in Tuscany, it has subtitles and that’s probably about all I can tell you without giving too much away. Although saying that there’s anything to give away probably gives too much away in the first place…

On the face of it, Certified Copy is something of a romantic comedy – but not as we know it, Jim. It plays with the clichés and formulaic conventions of rom coms that we’ve become accustomed to, to the point that you’re not quite sure what you’re watching. The pacey, snappy, Technicolor traits of Hollywood are replaced with slow, lolling (as opposed to LOLing) camera work, and beautifully subtle cinematography.

This makes the film very intriguing, almost more of a mystery than a romantic comedy, and definitely lingers on the mind, giving you plenty to think about on the way home. I should be clear, though - this isn't Memento, the plot isn't that twisty, it's just not at all what you might expect from what is essentially a romantic tale.

Binoche gives as great a performance as you’d expect. She is, as always, interesting, engaging and nuanced – and as such, she makes the film an enjoyable and absorbing experience, regardless of what’s going on in it.

So, if you like films that draw you in, play with your head, and give you very pretty Tuscan scenery to look at on the way, then you should check out Certified Copy!

And if you do wanna check out Certified Copy when it opens at the QFT in Belfast this Friday, book a ticket online using the code ORLA10 for a discount! Yay for discounts!

Fuller review with spoilers coming up later, btw.