Recently deceased, a white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to console his bereft wife, only to find that in his spectral state he has become unstuck in time, forced to watch passively as the life he knew and the woman he loves slowly slip away.
A Ghost Story (2017), directed by David Lowery, is a meditative exploration of grief, time, and existence. The story follows C (Casey Affleck), a man who dies in a car accident and returns as a ghost, shrouded in a white sheet with eye holes cut out, to haunt his former home. His wife, M (Rooney Mara), is left to cope with his death, while C, now a spectral presence, watches helplessly as she processes her grief and life moves on without him. Time begins to warp as C’s ghost witnesses the passing of years and the inevitable changes to the house and those who inhabit it. The film’s abstract nature and long, lingering shots offer a unique experience, drawing the audience into C’s perspective as he contemplates his own mortality and the impermanence of life.
Themes in A Ghost Story
- Grief and Loss: At its core, A Ghost Story is about the pain of losing a loved one. Through C’s post-death existence, the film explores how grief consumes the living and how the deceased are left in a state of emotional limbo, unable to truly connect with the ones they left behind
- Time and Permanence: The ghost’s existence is bound to a fixed place, but time moves around him in erratic and swift ways. The film shows the passing of years in mere moments, emphasizing the transience of life and the way time erodes everything, including memories, places, and people
- Existentialism: The ghost’s haunting existence represents an exploration of existence itself. C’s journey through time serves as a metaphor for the unknowable future, the futility of trying to leave a legacy, and the haunting realization that nothing, not even the places we inhabit, lasts forever
- Legacy and Memory: The notion of trying to leave something behind is questioned in the film. At one point, a party guest at C’s old house discusses the futility of leaving a lasting mark on the world. The ghost’s persistent presence serves as a silent witness to the futility of human efforts to preserve their legacy
10 Reasons to Watch A Ghost Story
- A Unique Ghost Story: The film subverts traditional ghost narratives, opting for a quiet, reflective portrayal rather than relying on scares or the supernatural thriller tropes commonly associated with the genre
- Stunning Cinematography: The film’s minimalist cinematography creates an intimate atmosphere. The camera lingers on scenes, allowing the audience to absorb every small detail and making the passage of time feel palpable
- Slow-Paced but Thoughtful: The film is deliberately slow, forcing viewers to reflect on the characters’ emotions and their experiences of grief and time. The patient pacing rewards those who are willing to engage deeply with its themes
- Emotionally Powerful: The film’s depiction of grief and the passage of time is raw and unfiltered. It avoids melodrama, instead allowing subtle moments of emotional resonance to speak volumes
- Minimalist Performance: Casey Affleck’s performance as the ghost is quietly poignant, conveying a sense of helplessness and longing through the simplest gestures. Rooney Mara, too, offers a powerful portrayal of grief, especially in the extended pie-eating scene, which has been widely praised
- Philosophical Exploration: It’s a thought-provoking film that challenges ideas about existence, legacy, and the nature of time. The philosophical depth of the film invites deep contemplation on human mortality
- Experimental Narrative: The film plays with the passage of time in unique ways, often leaving the audience to fill in the emotional and narrative gaps between scenes. It’s a narrative that rewards those who appreciate a more abstract, contemplative story
- The Ghost’s Perspective: A Ghost Story offers a rare perspective of the afterlife, depicting a ghost’s inability to interact with the world he left behind, giving an interesting spin on traditional ghost stories
- A Meditation on Space: The house where the story takes place becomes a character in its own right. It symbolizes the passage of time, change, and loss, serving as a space where memories linger even as the world around them changes
- A Beautiful Soundtrack: The film’s sparse, haunting score complements its themes of longing and absence. It enhances the emotional weight of each scene without overwhelming the narrative
How Will You Feel After Watching A Ghost Story?
After watching A Ghost Story, you will likely experience a mix of deep reflection and emotional resonance. The film’s slow pacing and deliberate silences create an atmosphere that encourages introspection. The portrayal of grief and the passage of time may leave you contemplating your own mortality, the impermanence of relationships, and the fleeting nature of human existence. Some viewers may feel unsettled by the film’s meditative quality, while others will find it deeply moving and comforting in its existential reflections.
The lingering emotions you will carry with you are largely due to the film’s ability to evoke empathy for its ghostly protagonist, whose inability to communicate or comfort his wife reflects the sadness and helplessness that comes with loss. The film might leave you contemplating the nature of memory, existence, and the inevitable changes time brings to everything.
In the end, A Ghost Story is not a film that aims to provide answers but to provoke thought, and it succeeds in making viewers reflect on life’s most fundamental truths—love, loss, and the inevitable passage of time
