Certified Copy

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Certified Copy

2011

1h 46m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

136 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

While touring Tuscany, Italy, promoting his new book, English author James (William Shimell) meets French store owner Elle (Juliette Binoche), and the two hit it off, deciding to spend a free day together. They travel to a nearby town, get coffee, visit a museum and pretend to be recently married in what turns out to be a popular wedding destination. As these two strangers get to know each other, however, it becomes clear there's more to their new relationship than meets the eye.

Critics Consensus

The main stars are absolutely perfect in this absorbing, existential drama that dissects human relationships.

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Keith Uhlich

Reverse Shot

The truth hides somewhere in [the] collision of being and non-being, always just out of reach.

Jan 30, 2020

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Were it not for the transcendent presence of Binoche (and her transfixing cleavage), I suspect Certified Copy might feel even more like homework.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 30, 2011

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

The conclusion is abrupt and unsatisfying, but the philosophical dialogue Kiarostami manages to keep aloft for well over an hour touches on intriguing questions of openness, self-honesty, and personal freedom.

Apr 15, 2011

Full Review

Michael Leader

Den of Geek

Certified Copy offers no answers, no objective truths or epiphanic twists. Even Kiarostami himself has said he has no definitive interpretation. We must deal with it. Like in real life. Or a copy of it, at least.

Rated: 4/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A film full of questions and very little answers. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 6, 2022

Full Review

Dustin Chang

Floating World

I realized while watching it, that Kiarostami was at it with his magic again, completely blowing away my expections of what the movie was going to be with his elegance in simplicity.

Mar 21, 2021

Full Review

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babarizam D

Movie reminded me of another movie from 90s. I think neither subject nor atmosphere is new in this movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/25

Full Review

Josh R

Amazing film! Subtle and simple at the same time. There is something to think about. Especially for married people. Some things are very accurately noted about marriage. And Binoche played brilliantly. It's a pity they don't make many films like this anymore...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

alan q

Don't believe it's possible to watch this movie without breaking down. Extraordinary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Ceci V

my absolute favourite film of all ....the way the director plays with my mind is admirable .....is there real love or what we have is a certified copy ? and is it important if we feel it as real as it gets ? i love this movie :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/23

Full Review

wesley c

One thing I learned, analyzing the films I see, is that just because the film is different doesn't mean it's good. This maxim fits perfectly in this film. The film's proposal, to be almost a kind of deep philosophical essay on the nature of things, failed. In place of such ambition, the viewer is delivered 106 minutes of a boring film, where there is no conflict, no suspense, no romance and no story. The dialogues, interspersed with wanderings and more wanderings through an Italian village, lead nowhere in the drama and could well be reduced to monologues enclosed in a room, which would save on the cost of locations, the actors' salaries and the costs of the technical team.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

Anna S

Artsy-fartsy snooze fest, mistakenly compared to Linklater's Before Sunrise, which had conversation that seemed natural and organic within the context of two people meeting and talking about life. Here, the midway twist seems contrived. Binoche overacts and over-emotes, and always seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown...perhaps to make up, or as a result of, for Shimell's completely wooden acting. For Binoche fans only.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/24

Full Review

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Abbas Kiarostami

Director

Juliette Binoche

She

William Shimell

James Miller

Jean-Claude Carrière

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Synopsis

While touring Tuscany, Italy, promoting his new book, English author James (William Shimell) meets French store owner Elle (Juliette Binoche), and the two hit it off, deciding to spend a free day together. They travel to a nearby town, get coffee, visit a museum and pretend to be recently married in what turns out to be a popular wedding destination. As these two strangers get to know each other, however, it becomes clear there's more to their new relationship than meets the eye.

Director: Abbas Kiarostami
Producer: Marin Karmitz, Nathanaël Karmitz, Charles Gillibert, Angelo Barbagallo
Screenwriter: Abbas Kiarostami
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: RAI Cinema
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 11, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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