When I eventually leave the planet I know that I will leave behind my passion for cinema through spicywatch.com, my numerous journals outlining my life experiences, my poetry and artwork, but most importantly I also hope that I will leave behind good memories of me for people to think back on. I would like to leave with grace and have no regrets when I go, and I would like to think that my children and my grandchildren felt as though they had a chance to get to know me properly and that I had managed to pass along some life wisdom to them that they would in turn pass along to other generations.
I have no desire to leave behind wealth, I would rather leave a legacy of love behind than any sort of material legacy. However, the thought of leaving behind a debt for my loved ones is not something that I would want to burden anyone with either. Hopefully, in some ways I will leave a clean slate, but also some good seeds which will grow at some other time in the future.
I am not intending to be morbid in this thinking, and I apologise if I have come off that way. I genuinely have no desire to die anytime soon, so please don't misunderstand me. I think that it is important to take stock of what your legacy will be after you depart, because even if you live to be 100, time is fleeting.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that what you do with your time is not nearly as important as why you do it and who you spend it with. No one will remember you for the car you drove, or the house you lived in, or how far you travelled around the world; they will only remember you for the way that you made them feel. So, I suppose that all that anyone could ever really want to leave behind when they go is a good feeling in the people's hearts that are left behind. And maybe that is the whole purpose of life, the whole kitnkaboodle in one simple sentence - you want to leave behind a good feeling, and I think that that is something pretty damn grand to aim for.
Release Date: 2017
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 87 minutes
No, this movie should not be in the horror section, in fact it would be far more at home on a romance list than a horror list. Thoughtfully directed by David Lowery, this melancholic look at the afterlife seriously touched my heart with its tale of love and loss.
The lives of a young couple are turned upside down when one of them is killed in a car accident. Things become more complicated when the deceased becomes a ghost, a literal one that walks around under a bedsheet. Unfortunately, he is invisible to everyone and becomes eternally stuck; sadly watching on as his beloved struggles and eventually moves on with her life.
Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara deliver perfectly, offering us a realistic and heart-wrenching depiction of bereavement from two perspectives, not easy to pull off under a bedsheet that's for sure.
The cinematography of this film really struck me, it is shot in 4 x 3 aspect with rounded edges, which makes it feel so retro, it's almost like watching a home movie. The visual scenes linger for much longer than you would expect them to, and it always feels, like the characters, that we are also poised in each moment. The entire film actually feels like it is just 'hanging' somewhere, like it is completely lost somewhere in time and space and it just works so well.
Not at all a conventional ghost story, but definitely a must see movie experience that will have you reaching for the tissue box and sitting in quiet contemplation as the credits are rolling. This is truly unforgettable and deeply moving material.
FINAL SAY: They're just things I wanted to remember so that if I ever wanted to go back, there'd be a piece of me there waiting.
4.5 Chilli Peppers