A singer-songwriter (Casey Affleck) dies and becomes a ghost. Instead of crossing over to wherever a ghost should go, he chooses to return home and haunt the house where he and his wife (Rooney Mara) once lived. He really liked that house even though it was a rental, and regularly fought with Rooney about whether they would someday move.
Actually, I don’t know whether the couple was married or not. I don’t even remember their names, and neither IMDB nor the film’s official web site feel the need to disclose that information at this time.
Frankly, it doesn’t matter though. This is a quiet film without much dialogue in which a person wearing a white bed sheet (it really is Casey under the sheet) stands around watching time pass and all traces of his existence slip away. Time passes first in seconds, then in days, then months, years, and eventually centuries — not always in the forward direction. There are skyscrapers and indians, covered wagons and arrow-riddled settlers. Because the ghost isn’t able (or possibly willing) to move from its physical location, changes in time are what provide us changes in scenery.
And then there’s the 5 minute continuous shot of Rooney Mara eating a pie. If you choose to watch this movie, and you should, try to hang in there until at least shortly after the pie scene without giving up and changing the channel.
This is not a horror film, though the director did consider that option. This is not a comedy, though there are a couple of really funny moments. I did not give away the entire plot in this synopsis, because there really isn’t much of a plot (the script was only about 30 pages). This is an experience and opportunity to reflect on the ideas presented, not so much a story.
Side note: The movie’s musical score and songs are very good.
Venue: Seattle International Film Festival, 2017
Country: USA
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Fantasy
