Director: David Lowery
Release Date: 2017
Running Time: 1hr 32 minutes
Genre: Drama
Rating: 12
Seen On: Netflix
Synopsis:
In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased white sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try and reconnect with his wife.
Despite its unearthly name, "A Ghost Story" should not be mistaken for a horror movie. Quite the opposite. It should also be said, that you should not go in expecting this film to frighten you. You'll be taken on an emotional journey through grief, sadness, loss, legacy and hope. C (Affleck) is a gifted composer with a love for history, with a dislike for his girlfriend's idea to move house. Straight away we get a look into these two people's lives, there is kindness, love and affection. When C is suddenly killed in a car accident, M's life is turned upside down. This is where director David Lowery has been exceptionally clever in his direction and in his writing.
At first glance, the storyline sounds rather ridiculous. A man dressed as a ghost in a white sheet, honestly? Yes. The beauty of the story is that you are not only witnessing the grief of those left behind, but of those that have passed on too. The story will have you constantly asking questions. Does he know he's dead? Is he comforting his girlfriend by staying behind? Does he have unfinished business? Director David Lowery, has made a strong point to not have a lot of dialogue throughout the film, there is just enough for viewers to understand the basics of what's happened. As time passes, you learn those left behind are moving on, adapting, coping, starting over. This is beautifully shown through timelapses.
At one point we are introduced to a Spanish family who have now moved into C and M's home. Time is a great healer. C is witness to time moving on, what was once an empty house is now filled with love and happiness. Although there is not a lot of dialogue, you are most certainly touched by the emotional visuals, you don't need dialogue to understand what's happening on the screen. The storyline is essentially showing the different stages of grief and how we begin to learn and cope without our loved ones. There is always a legacy left behind, although our loved ones have moved on, they are never forgotten. The story really allows you to question your own existence. Everyone's beliefs are different, the beauty is that everyone will interpret it differently.
Don't think about the length of the film, or the simplicity of some scenes. How does it make you feel? What emotions are you feeling? It's very rare in film that we are shown grief or loss from those that have moved on. Do they stand around watching us grieve? Do they desperately try to comfort us when they can't? If you've lost someone, chances are these scenes are going to be emotional for you, you know what it feels like to be alone, grieving privately, wanting nothing more than your loved one to come back, to feel their love. There are even elements of time travel incorporated into the film. It'll touch you on an emotional level that possibly you have never witnessed before.
Beautifully shot with a haunting score that'll touch you, allowing you to go through all the emotions. Remarkably unique in his story-telling it's hard to believe that David Lowery was turned down twelve times at the Sundance Film Festival for his short films. To go on and release something so different, that everyone can relate to on some level, all I can say is, what an earth were they thinking at Sundance? Lowery has a very promising career ahead of him. If all of his movies are like this, in the way in which they connect to you? I can't wait to see what he has in store. No one was more surprised then I was, when it came to watching this film. Wow! An open mind is all you need.
5/5 stars
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