The Double
- 2013
- Tous publics
- 1h 33m
The unenviable life of a government-agency clerk takes a horrific turn with the arrival of a new co-worker who is both his exact physical double and his opposite otherwise--he's a confident,... Read allThe unenviable life of a government-agency clerk takes a horrific turn with the arrival of a new co-worker who is both his exact physical double and his opposite otherwise--he's a confident, charismatic ladies' man.The unenviable life of a government-agency clerk takes a horrific turn with the arrival of a new co-worker who is both his exact physical double and his opposite otherwise--he's a confident, charismatic ladies' man.
- Awards
- 1 win & 11 nominations total
Featured reviews
This is a dark, moody comedy peppered with some hilarious dialogue and genuine pathos although it doesn't quite fulfil its early expectations. The real highlight here is Ayoade's directorial style with real shades of Terry Gilliam in its surrealist approach to the world he has created. He cranks up the volume of everyday things like taps running or footsteps to build tension up in scenes and Jesse Einsberg is perfect casting for playing both roles.
A real curious piece but one which deserves an audience and suggests Ayoade is on track to become a real tour de force.
I am not familiar with Dostoevskys book but this adaptation from Ayoade was really more like Kafka. A bizarre story set in a bureaucratic, soul-less environment where humanity tries to come out like a flower through concrete. Or as an obnoxious douchebag.
But the memorable Brazil-like imagery aside it's a few degrees too weird and loses you a bit.
As if this was not discouraging enough, a new colleague joins who is identical to you in appearance but has the completely opposite personality.
A smart telling of the Dostoevsky novel about a person who has the capacity to tolerate everything but his own double whose existence causes him a dilemma: continue to silently tolerate everything or change and adapt.
Perhaps not the easiest of movies to watch but its quirky wit and creative cinematography will win you over.
What I didn't like.
- I understand that the movie doesn't aim to be the most accurate adaptation, hence it's modern setting, but the truth is, the movie is just loosely based on the novel. I say that because it only makes use of some plot devices that are to be found in the book, but mostly fails in capturing the inner emotional turmoil, dilemmas, paranoia and mental dizziness of Simon, elements that make Dostoevsky's Golyadkin an interesting case for me. Here the character of Simon is simplified a bit. For example when Simon meets his double, instead of the sheer dread that makes me feel the horror of this unspeakable resemblance, one can see a sudden cut to a Simon that has just faint - an easy gateway for the screenwriters and the director. Or the very first encounter with the double, when James takes the photos of the Colonel and other employees, that seemed a bit too abrupt and in a certain sense - rushed.
- an unnecessary comedic tone, with tasteless jokes for a rather profound story.
- The mild Chinese racism - did the screenwriter try to copy Dostoyevsky's sense of mocking towards the ethnic Germans?
Things I did like
- the color grading, the tones, the hues, the sick greenish of the office; Better that I'd have imagined.
- Jesse Eisenberg's (The Social Network) and Mia Wasikowska's performances.
- ''a person can get really sick by just floating by''
- also the speech about Pinocchio and feeling like you're not real. And the subway scenes especially.
Did you know
- TriviaThe piano motif throughout the film comes from the song 'Der Doppelgänger' by Franz Schubert; the words to this piece tell the tale of a man and his evil twin.
- Quotes
Simon: I don't know how to be myself. It's like I'm permanently outside myself. Like, like you could push your hands straight through me if you wanted to. And I can see the type of man I want to be versus the type of man I actually am and I know that I'm doing it but I'm incapable of what needs to be done. I'm like Pinocchio, a wooden boy. Not a real boy. And it kills me.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Film '72: Episode dated 5 March 2014 (2014)
- SoundtracksAkasaka Rain
aka "Ameno Akasaka"
Written by Jun Hashimoto, Tsunaki Mihara
Published by Watanabe Music Publishing Co. Ltd (c) 1968
Administered by Fairwood Music (UK) Ltd for the UK & Eire
Performed by The Blue Comets
Licensed courtesy Watanabe Music Publishing Co. Ltd
Administered by Fairwood Music (UK) Ltd for the UK & Eire
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- El Doble
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $200,406
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $14,646
- May 11, 2014
- Gross worldwide
- $1,662,515
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1