A Spiritual Movie Recommendation

Mrs. Orr and I watched a movie last night and I’ve been thinking about it all day.

The movie is A Ghost Story, starring Casey Affleck. Mr. Affleck’s presence in the film was what made me want to watch it, as I have enjoyed his subtle, naturalistic performances in several movies over the years, including Manchester By The Sea and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It’s tricky to write about this sort of movie, because it’s one of those that I would likely not be inclined to watch if someone attempted to describe it to me. It was a find, simple as that.

A Ghost Story is not a horror movie in any sense. It is a supernatural drama, exploring the themes of loss, memory, time, and loneliness. It’s the story of a man who is killed near the home he shares with his young wife, a home he loves. After his death, the man’s ghost returns to the home and waits. And watches. And grieves, if ghosts can be said to mourn.

We were transfixed by the quiet tone of the movie, and the slow pace. The scenes tend to be long and steady, somewhat similar to Stanley Kubrick’s composition of scenes. There are elements of familiar stories, classic and modern, within the film.  For example, the exploration of the theme of the nature of time reminded me somewhat of the Bradley Cooper sci-fi movie Interstellar. And for us, it didn’t hurt that the film was set and filmed in Texas.

What’s kept me pondering the movie all day today was Mr. Affleck’s performance. And this is probably an odd statement, given that not just his face but his entire body is obscured for most of the film. But the sense of his very presence comes through in every scene, mournful and bruised and watchful and still.

I strongly recommend A Ghost Story if any of you are in the mood to watch a quiet movie, a movie that may just cause you to sit and ponder after it ends. This movie is a cinematic poem.

~ S.K. Orr