A Ghost Story 2017
Directed by
David Lowery
Made by
A24
Plot Summary
Discover the intricate plot of A Ghost Story (2017). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.
A musician resides with his wife in a quaint home located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Despite her desire to relocate, he is firmly against the idea. One fateful night, an unexplained noise emanates from their piano, leaving them puzzled about its source. Tragedy strikes when the man meets his untimely end in a car accident.
In a somber hospital moment, his wife mournfully views his lifeless body, covering it with a sheet. Awakening as a ghost, he finds himself draped in that very sheet, wandering the hospital as an unseen presence. He encounters a door of light but, overwhelmed, chooses to retreat as it closes behind him. The ghost returns to his home, observing his wife’s grief unfold over days and weeks. During this solitary period, he discovers another spirit residing in the adjacent house. This silent ghost conveys her longing for someone she cannot quite remember.
When his wife returns home with another man, the heartbroken ghost reacts violently, flinging books from the shelves and manipulating the lights. As she listens to a heartfelt song penned by him during his life, she resolves to leave and writes a note, stashing it in a crevice of the wall. The ghost, desperate to retrieve the note, finds it out of reach.
A new family eventually moves in. The ghost silently witnesses their dinners, piano sessions, and festive Christmas celebrations. However, the children’s unease with his presence drives the family to leave after experiencing a barrage of flying plates from the kitchen. Later, during a vibrant gathering hosted by the next residents, he overhears a man philosophizing about humanity’s futile quest to establish a legacy amidst inevitable destruction, all while the partygoers sense the flickering lights above.
Time passes, and the once lively home falls into decay and abandonment. As he finally manages to remove a portion of the wall hiding the note, the sounds of bulldozers demolishing the house next door drown out his efforts. The second ghost expresses her resignation, revealing that she no longer believes her awaited one will arrive, before ultimately vanishing.
The man’s spirit witnesses a skyscraper rise in place of his old home. From the rooftop, he gazes at a stunning futuristic landscape. In an unexpected twist, he jumps off, transporting himself to the 19th century, where he observes a family of settlers laboring to construct a new home. He watches closely as the family’s young daughter hides a note under a rock. Tragically, after the family falls victim to Native Americans, he watches helplessly as the young girl’s body is consumed by grass over time.
Fast forward several decades, he sees a flashback of his past self and wife moving into the same house, bickering once again over the possibility of moving out. After the man finally concedes that he is prepared to leave, the ghost takes to the piano, striking the keys to produce a sound that rouses the couple from slumber. As his wife departs the home, he spots his former ghost counterpart bearing witness to her exit. In a moment of poignant closure, he retrieves the note from the wall, reads it, and subsequently dissipates.
Timeline
Track the key events of A Ghost Story (2017) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.
The Musician's Home Life
A dedicated musician lives with his wife in a charming house situated in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Despite her aspirations to move, he firmly opposes the idea, setting the stage for the conflicts that will arise in their relationship.
The Mysterious Piano Noise
One night, an unexplained noise starts emanating from their piano, creating a sense of mystery and confusion between the couple. This incident foreshadows the tragic events that will soon unfold in their lives.
Tragic Car Accident
The musician's life takes a devastating turn when he unexpectedly dies in a car accident. This tragic event leaves his wife heartbroken and sets into motion the ghostly experiences that follow.
Mourning in the Hospital
In a somber hospital moment, the musician's wife mourns as she gazes upon his lifeless form, covered with a sheet. This moment encapsulates her profound loss and the beginning of his ghostly existence.
Awakening as a Ghost
After his death, the musician awakens as a ghost, draped in the very sheet covering his body. Struggling to accept his new reality, he wanders the hospital, confused and searching for answers.
Encountering the Door of Light
The ghost encounters a door of light that symbolizes the transition to the afterlife. Ultimately feeling overwhelmed, he chooses to retreat back to his home, leaving the door closed behind him.
Observing His Wife's Grief
Returning home, the spirit watches his wife's unending grief as days and weeks pass. This silent observation illuminates the depth of their love and the pain of his absence.
Meeting Another Ghost
The musician discovers another spirit living in the adjacent house, who expresses her yearning for someone from her past that she cannot quite remember. This connection deepens the exploration of loss between the two ghosts.
Wife Moves On with Another Man
Heartbroken, the musician reacts violently when his wife returns home with another man. In his anguish, he throws books from the shelves, revealing his turmoil and desperation for her attention.
The Heartfelt Song
As she listens to a poignant song he had written, his wife decides to leave and writes a heartfelt note. She hides this note in the wall, prompting the ghost to desperately seek it out.
New Family Moves In
A new family arrives, and the ghost silently witnesses their joyful dinners, piano sessions, and Christmas celebrations. However, the children feel his presence and the family soon relocates after an unsettling incident.
Party and Philosophical Talk
During a vibrant gathering hosted by the next residents, the ghost overhears a man discussing the futility of humanity's quest for legacy. It's a moment of reflection amidst the festive atmosphere as light flickers overhead.
House Falls into Decay
As time passes, the once lively home succumbs to decay and neglect. The ghost feels a growing sense of loss as he realizes the permanence of his separation from the living world.
The Note's Hidden Secret
Finally, the ghost manages to pry open the wall to retrieve the note hidden by his wife. Unfortunately, bulldozers demolishing the neighboring house drown out his triumph, signifying the loss of the past.
A Journey to the Past
In a moment of transcendence, the ghost jumps into the past, where he witnesses a family of settlers. He observes a little girl hiding a note under a rock before the tragedy unfolds, reinforcing the cycle of loss.
Characters
Meet the characters that bring A Ghost Story (2017) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.
The Musician (Casey Affleck)
The musician is a deeply introspective figure, torn between his attachment to his home and the changing dynamics of his marriage. His tragic death leads to a poignant exploration of his resulting ghostly existence, where he grapples with watching his wife move on without him. His character embodies the struggles of love, identity, and the quest for closure.
The Wife (Rooney Mara)
The wife is a complex character grappling with her own grief and desire for freedom from the past. Her journey reflects the pain of loss, as she initially mourns the musician's death but gradually seeks to rebuild her life. Her decision to move on becomes a pivotal moment in the story, challenging the ghost's understanding of love and attachment.
Setting
Uncover the settings of A Ghost Story (2017), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.
Time period
19th Century, Present Day
The narrative traverses two distinct time periods: the present day where a musician and his wife navigate life in their home, and the 19th century, exploring the challenges faced by settlers. In the present, themes of grief, loss, and lingering attachments are prevalent, while the 19th century reflects the harsh realities and aspirations of early American life.
Location
Dallas/Fort Worth, 19th Century homestead
The movie primarily takes place in a quaint home located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, known for its vibrant culture and history. Additionally, a sequence is set in the 19th century, showcasing a modest homestead where settlers built their lives. This dual setting contrasts modern life with the historical struggles and aspirations of families in a simpler time.
Themes
Explore the core themes of A Ghost Story (2017). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.
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Grief
Grief plays a central role in the story, particularly through the wife's mourning process after her husband's death. The ghost's yearning to reconnect with his beloved encapsulates the relentless nature of grief, as he witnesses her coping and eventual moving on with another man. This emotional weight is mirrored in the ghost's inability to let go, highlighting the profound impact of loss.
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Time & Legacy
Time is a critical theme, as the ghost observes the passage of years and the changes that occur in and around his home. The film explores humanity's desire to leave a legacy, intertwined with the understanding that all things eventually fade away. This theme is poignantly illustrated as the ghost witnesses the cyclical nature of life and death, culminating in the rise of new structures where once he lived.
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Existence & Observation
The ghost's existence as an unseen observer emphasizes themes of isolation and connection. He experiences life through the eyes of others, yearning for interaction yet unable to participate. This silent observation extends to his interactions with other spirits, exploring the nature of existence beyond death and the restless longing for connection.
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