Sombras da Vida

This film tells the story of a man who dies in a car accident. He goes back to his home as a ghost covered in a white sheet, and watch the world goes by and goes on.

Casey Affleck must have the least screen time ever for a leading credit. He appears in the film for a total of ten to fifteen minutes only. Anyone could have been under that white sheet, so it might not have been him.

This film lacks any story. It is so slow that I watched it at three times the speed and still thought it was far too slow. Watching Rooney Mara eat a pie for seven minutes is not interesting. Watching a ghost standing motionless for three minutes isn't interesting either. In fact, the whole film is not interesting. It seems like someone's very mean and twisted practical joke, by making a bad film and see how the critics declare that they love it.

A Ghost Story was a rather polarizing movie back when it premiered due to its misleading marketing that made it seem like a horror/suspense movie, but the reality is not that far away when we start thinking things through.

I was moved and enthralled by what, at first glance, is a slow-burn kind of movie with very, very little dialogue and long takes that seems to drag on and on, yet with each take, there's a small gift of solace in portraying a very melancholic life about loss, grief, and the passing of time. A movie that's softly strong it essence, with a simplistic narrative that tries to for the less-is-more kind of approach, and, in my opinion, it succeeds at it.

Don't expect this to be a melodrama or a romance, instead, approach it as a cinematographic experience about the inability to let go of a loved one, about the dangers of waiting, and how love can endure what seems eternity.

There's two particular scenes that completely moved me, despite their short and succinct execution, they work great at showing you what this film is about, and I'm sure that if you give it the opportunity and time, it will reward you with a very powerful story.

I didn't hate this film, but it missed the mark on so many levels. Rooney Mara's talent is essentially wasted in her role as the grieving widow. Casey Affleck is...well, Casey Affleck, and in his defense, he doesn't have much to work with here. The director gets points for making a silent bed sheet somewhat watchable. And, there are a few really good scenes, which I won't describe in case you absolutely, positively want to watch this. However, I have to warn you that unless you're willing to endure long stretches of nothing of importance happening, you probably won't care for this film.

This is what happens when a director decides to make a work of art regardless of what the intended audience wants. Points awarded for trying.

This is not a film to watch with a big bowl of popcorn snuggled up looking for something to entertain you on a Tuesday night. It's probably best that you know what you're getting yourself into...

It's a film that challenges you to empathize with a faceless, voiceless entity that you only get to know briefly. It weaponizes boredom and hazy, cold cinematography to put the viewer in a similar situation as the titular ghost. You are a distant, helpless observer to a world that relentlessly moves forward without you. Characters come and go without much introduction or resolution, and all you can do is watch as time goes on... and on... and on...

A Ghost Story is intentionally divisive, but if you immerse yourself in its bold and and chilling atmosphere, you will experience a film that is deeply moving and sticks with you for a long, long time.

It's a good concept. But poorly portrayed... Excruciating,, long ,, boring scenes,,with absolutely no pay off. If anyone paid at a theatre to see this, they got robbed. I would be demanding My money back and reparations for the valuable time that cannot be replaced. Run from this film , as fast as you can.