MovieChat Forums > A Ghost Story (2017) Discussion > The point of view problem (SPOILERS)

The point of view problem (SPOILERS)


The movie is told from the ghost's point of view and I think it suffers from it...

First, it works well to structure the movie as we go from the couple's point of view to the ghosts point of view quickly and the story continues as it takes a broader look at other people and time periods...

That works, but it is too distancing for the audience otherwise, we do not feel what the ghost feels... Our avatar is faceless and airless in that insubstantial indie-movie-arthouse-horror way... It reminded me of that slight Netflix movie, "I am the pretty thing that lives in the house", in a bad way. A Ghost Story is better and more conceptually rich, but there is something missing and way too 'aware' about it. It seemed way too didactic and wanted to instruct us on how the world is and not just in the monologue by the bald guy, but in how it presents itself as uncovering universal truthes, but doesn't really allow much for the subject experience of people, apart from the pie eating scene (highlight of the film).

I suppose the movie relies too much on the viewer bringing their own sense of grief and loss to the movie... That is the sense I got from it...

It's an ok movie, but as someone who has not experienced significant loss, it didn't strike me as profound, which is fine, but more importantly it was not emotionally moving even though I could empathise... Much like most de-skilled modern art these days, it felt insubstantial...

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I disagree. I felt everything that the ghost was feeling. It was obvious. I love this movie: 8.5/10.

😎

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I disagree the telling from the pov of the ghost is unusual and works amazingly. The emptiness is palpable.

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