mundell.org A little of this, a little of that

The American version of Veronique features a different ending: in the original European version (Artificial Eye and MK2), Veronique drives to the house where he is still living and pauses outside to touch a tree. Her father realizes she’s outside and raises his head from the bench where he’s working. The American version features 1 minute of additional footage showing the father stepping outside the house, calling his daughter and Veronique runs into his arms. Kieslowski shot the additional sequences after the film’s premiere at the New York Film Festival in 1991, when he realized that the audience didn’t understand the meaning of the original ending.

On the Criterion version, you’ll also get the booklet with Slawoj Zizek’s metaphysical Laconic drivel to lull you to sleep once you’ve seen the film. On the good side you get the film “The Musicians” (1958) by Kieslowski’s highly-regarded teacher, Kazimierz Karabasz, as well as rare footage of the film being made with Irene Jacob listening and making suggestions to Kieslowski.

Irene wanted at one point to run with her shoelaces undone in the streets near the Rynek square in Krakow but Kieslowski thought better of it and kept the idea of the lace for another scene where she straightens one suddenly to signify Weronika’s heart-beat stopping.

Criterion’s DVD is one of the best quality versions made with excellent colour rendition and golden tones rather than the green tone seen in the earlier European versions. It’s was Slawomir Idziak’s favourite film of Kieslowski who incidentally is the chief cinematographer for the next Harry Potter film due out in 2007.

As you probably know, Kieslowski insisted he didn’t film metaphors nor intended that meanings should be derived from the film. He simply wanted people to be in touch with their feelings and emotions while watching the film. For the critics though, he did put in a few little tricks for them to excitedly discover but miss the main point of the film. For example, keep an eye on room numbers… The director Wong Kai War paid hommage to Kieslowski by doing the same thing in “In The Mood For Love” and “2046″.

Well, enjoy the film!

Posted by Alexandre FABBRI on 22 December 2006 @ 11am