A Ghost Story

[kevinknapman]

David Lowery's bold and unique haunting drama A Ghost Story was the closing film at Sundance London back in June and goes on general release in the UK on the 11th August.
Reuniting with Ain't Them Bodies Saints' stars Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara for something radically different from both that and, especially, his previous film Pete's Dragon.

The film was inspired by an argument with his wife about whether or not to move home coupled with the desire to make a horror movie where the ghost was just an actor in a white sheet with eyes holes cut out just because he found that image amusing.
Largely ditching the horror idea, the resulting film tells the story of a young couple called C & M, living in a suburban Dallas home beset by odd noises and crashes. When C dies in a sudden car accident, M is left alone to grieve unaware that C has returned to haunt the house.

This is the basic set-up for a meditative and melancholy film about love, loss and time.To say more would ruin the intriguing direction that the film finally goes in, but it's certainly unlike anything you've seen before.
Affleck and Mara both give extraordinary performances, though Affleck does spend a lot of the film covered by the aforementioned sheet. Whilst indie songwriter and musician Will Oldham has a memorable mid-film monologue at a house party.

It certainly won't be to everyone's tastes, the ghost in a sheet idea may prove to be a little too comic and daft for some, and there are several self-indulgent moments throughout (one scene has Mara eating half a pie in real time as an expression of her grief). But for those willing to go in with an open mind, the film leaves you with plenty to think about. Plus it's beautifully shot in the Academy ratio by Andrew Droz Palermo with a great score by previous Lowery collaborator Daniel Hart.
Confirmation that Lowery is one of the most interesting US filmmakers currently working.

[KatyCole]

Planning to see this at the Crouch End Picturehouse over the weekend. Looks like it’s in my ballpark!

Had no idea that Picturehouse was helping with the release in the UK and wish I’d known sooner!

[newdot]

saw this a while back at a preview and must recommend. we have all lost someone or been lost...this movie is for us. no clay pottery wheel scene however, so only a 9.9999 score from me.