2017’s “Ghost Story“, written and directed by David Lowery.
Starring Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, and Will Oldham.
What is it about?
“A Ghost Story” is an art house drama featuring Casey
Affleck (known simply as C) and Rooney Mara (known simply as M). The 2 of them
live together as a couple, him composing music while she tends to the home, until
Affleck’s untimely death. But Affleck is not done- his ghost rises from his
body, draped in sheets, and returns to the home that they shared together.
Unable to speak with his former lover, will the ghost of Affleck be able to
find peace in the land of the living?
Why is it worth seeing?
As the above description details, “A Ghost Story” is a low
concept art film with some serious ambitions. Lowery tries to make a film that
embodies the sense of timelessness that the paranormal likely would experience,
and throws in plenty of the celestial to occupy the mundane events that a
creature wrapped in bed sheets (with eye holes cut out) would experience in
it’s wanderings.
As mentioned above, Lowery’s sense of time and mourning,
make for a film that has some serious navel gazing in the Michael Haneke vein.
Featuring likely the longest takes of the year, patience is required, and
that’s before we get to watch the bed sheet wrapped figure silently watch
people go by, epoch by epoch.
Beyond the art house sensibilities, there are some funny
moments, such as a chance encounter with another ghost, that make the film
endearing. However, it’s ethereal trappings can be difficult to grasp a hold
of. As well, beneath the message the film is delivering to us through the
story, there is also a monologue to hammer the whole thing home, delivered by that guy
(Will Oldham) at a party. This is likely the most unbearable point made in the film:
who hasn’t been to a social function and wished that a ghost standing silently
in the corner would murder that insufferable blowhard who is in love with the
sound of their own voice?
Celebrating the romantic ideal of unfinished business,
through the cyclical trappings of time and space, “A Ghost Story” isn’t
everyone’s cup of chamomile tea, but I can see how it could be for some. It’s tale
of wandering until you find what you’re looking for- through the deathly quiet.
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