Certified Copy: An Iranian's Case for Gay Marriage

For all those people (and I'm including most of the critics I read) who find this movie too difficult to understand, and to all the other people who want to watch a movie that will really make you think, you need to read this review.

Let me start by introducing you to the characters of the story. The movie starts out with a book signing. A British author, James Miller, has written a book titled Certified Copy in which he argues that a copy of art is just as aesthetically satisfying as the original. He is late to his book signing despite the fact that he is staying upstairs. The woman in the story, named Elle (Juliette Binoche) arrives a few minutes after James with her son who is deeply engrossed in a handheld video game. Elle and her son leave, and then there is are a few scense between the son and his mother. Later James arrives to meet Elle, and they take a trip out of the city. The rest of the movie is Elle and James meandering about this nearby city and talking about relationships, philosophy, and life.

Now the secret: The movie starts out making you think that Elle and James are meeting for the first time, but it becomes clear throughout the movie that they have known each other for 15 years, and the boy with Elle is their son. The opening sequence suggests that they had been together before the book signing. She sat in a reserved seat without any complaint. She had previously read his book and didn't like it but yet bought several copies. She is nervous when her son asks a lot of questions about all the books and she makes up excuses. When they meet at her shop, it is clear they haven't seen each other in a while because he asks a lot of questions to get more acquainted with her. There are many people who mistake them for being married, which Elle admits is not true, but doesn't correct those who make that assumption . The son does not recognize his father, either because he has never been told much about him, or because he was very young the last time his parents were together. Perhaps he is already married back in England. He does take frequent calls even in the middle of a book signing. Whether he is or not is really immaterial. Elle wants him to take responsibility for their child, and wants him to come and live with her. He is selfish, easily frustrated, and clearly smitten with Elle.

The ideas they explore are very deep: pleasure vs responsibility, male vs female, authenticity vs mimicry. The movie's strongest point is however that a copy is never as good as the original, and the illustration of this is marriage. This movie captures exactly what the gay community has been trying to tell everyone: civil unions and domestic partnerships are not marriage. Marriage is authentic. James believes that he has his life and his family (i.e. Elle and her son) have theirs. He views personal happiness to be the ultimate aim in life, but discounts that he plays a role in the happiness of others. Elle is trapped in a fantasy of her and James as a married couple. She just wants a man's shoulder to rest on; someone who she can help share her burdens. This relationship shows the detachment and struggle of a couple who have deep feelings for each other, but do not solemnize those feelings. Ultimately, there is no commitment.

These ideas alone personified would make this movie a success. But Kiarostami also gives us some amazing cinematography, and Juliette Binoche (the every woman) who is brilliant in delving into Elle's frustration, and infatuation with James. A genuine masterpiece.