MovieChat Forums > Copie conforme (2011) Discussion > The 'truth'

The 'truth'

posted 13 years ago by captainadam
6 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS.

To a point, I wonder if debating whether or not Elle and James are new acquaintances or a long-married couple is beside the point, but, nonetheless, here goes.

By the conclusion of the film, I'd come to a place where I felt that the married couple was the truth and the "we just met" line was the copy. Of course, I recognize that there are loopholes either way.

That's one of the most lovely things about the film. Even though it doesn't make empirical sense, it makes emotional sense. I think that, in the end, that's what really matters.

What do you think?

Shameless plug: I posted a review of the film at http://everythingyoualwayswantedtoknow.blogspot.com/

[–] daviddumont_1 13 years ago

I think the best interpretation is: there is no truth, "so what?". There are no "fixed points of reference" (to quote the character) to determine which is the truth about art or about relationships. What is geniuine and what is a copy? It's all about people's perception.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DinosaurAct86 11 years ago

I agree, having just watched it. There are even instances where characters seem to know things they couldn't possibly know if one story or the other is true. For example, James could not know that her husband shaved only every other day because he was on the phone outside during her conversation with the Italian barista, and yet he does know it later in the film because he says it when they're seated on the steps. Conversely, she says her husband cannot speak French and yet we see that James does indeed speak French very fluently. So, there is no "fixed point" or ultimate truth here; it's all perception. Still, I think there is an even bigger question at play beyond all of that---can two people really ever "know" one another? And, as a follow-up, do these two succeed in knowing one another?

[–] eMWu 11 years ago

Wasn't it implied that James had memory problems (amnesia) and he simply forgets everything?

[–] ahrawrah 11 years ago

My interpretation was similar to yours, that they're a married couple attempting to reproduce the chemistry/awkwardness of their early relationship. I think they had agreed before the visit to pretend that they didn't know each other, but yeah, I would have to rewatch the movie for loopholes (eg. the son seems to do a good job of thinking the mom was flirting with the writer, is he on to the plan?).

I actually thought it was a depressing film and not at all the romantic drama it was advertised to be. It seems to me that James is going to stay the night with her (the bells ring eight times, so he has one more hour to rush back to the train station, but he's in no hurry) but I'm not optimistic about their relationship if this is the most reconciliatory it's going to get...

[–] sophouli 8 years ago

I believe that they knew each other because in the first scene she sits on a "reserved" chair which means he waited for her.Probably,a married couple or something like that.