A24's Forgotten Masterpiece
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- A Ghost Story is a film that impacted me deeply the first time I experienced it, and it sadly hasn't seemed to stay in the hearts of the masses. In this video, I attempt to make my case for the film being A24's masterpiece.
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This is just my opinion, and I would love to hear yours!
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#a24 #videoessay #film
‼️PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING
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I did not negatively criticize this film in the video because that was not the goal of the video. It is not a review, it was just an expression of what the movie means to me and why it resonates with me personally. I fully acknowledge that as a piece of entertainment it falls short in many areas such as pacing and subtlety. But while I recognize these flaws, the subjectivity of opinions also plays a factor here. This is not my favorite movie for traditional critical reasons such as pacing and accessibility, it’s my favorite movie because its themes and messages hit very close to home for me in ways I couldn’t talk about in the video because they’re genuinely that personal. So please understand that. If you hate this movie, that’s okay! That’s what’s great about movies, we’re not robots, we all have different opinions and experiences. Just please try to be understanding and respectful and positive when expressing your own in the comments. I just want my channel to be a place of healthy discussion and positive vibes and commenting very aggressive pushback doesn’t help anyone. Hope this makes sense. Thank you for watching.
I struggled so hard to recommend this movie cause I know most people would find it boring but I remember not being able to stop thinking about this movie after I watched it
@@hastur5248 yeah it’s one of those movies that I tell people to not watch unless they’re in the mood for it lol
SAMEEEE
This is exactly how I felt. It was so melancholy and meaningful for me, I loved it. I can see why others may think it was boring but I adored it
I don't really recommend this film to anybody who doesn't need it. This movie finds you. I think that it only really works when you watch it at the right time.
Agreed actually!
that's a really great point! I think it's also best going in not knowing anything. that way you can truly feel the wonder and revelation in this film
Spoiler: When he finds the note finally and disappears, I sobbed uncontrollably. Was just the most beautiful thing and no words needed to be said. Unforgettable.
Yeah, i didn't even want to know what the note say, i just accept it and cry then smoke a ciggarette after
I’m so glad to see this film get such a loving, careful bit of appreciation. Some of the powerful single lines like “I don’t think they’re coming.” just flattened me.
Since 2018, I have lost my sister, Mother and brother. I don't think I have yet grieved for them. I think this film found me for a reason. Thank you Xaybeast.
This is my favorite A24 film (so far) as well. The atmosphere is simply unrivaled. It’s so bittersweet, I never thought a scene with no spoken words and only subtitles between two bedsheet ghosts could deliver the gut punch that it did.
I really enjoyed your deconstruction of the movie and it’s themes. Another thing that I love about this film is how you can interpret it in so many ways. I believe how you feel about this movie says something deep about yourself and your beliefs.
The movie was soo good that it needs people like you to explain things.
i love this film so much! the visuals of the ghost as a sheet, the pie scene, everything was so painfully beautiful and real
The pie scene is the worst scene in the film.
@@WobblesandBean terrible take, you’ve obviously never stuffed your face while crying. Please experience a human emotion, thank you
I watched through the whole video, but i will definitely still be watching this in my own time.
I also was very surprised that this had such little engagement because the experience of watching this video was impactful in itself
@@coorpate Thank you! I’m glad the video inspired you to watch the movie!
This movie has haunted me so much more than any other ghost movie.
This is my favorite by them. Hands down.
I watched it again after my husband passed. Extremely cathartic and poignant.
I haven't watched the movie yet, but this video essay made me cry. And so I will watch it thanks to you.
Oh my guy, your words in the last minutes had me crying, well done. Such a hitting and beautiful statement. Thank you ♡
I just had a close call with the other world, I’m alive and well now but this essay resonated with my mind so much, everything changes when you know it all ends, eventually …
I had a recent discussion revolving around suicide, which I find to have an unfair stigma, as if outsiders want people to suffer a terrible quality of life... as if making it longer gets a door prize or something. I can't say I understand fully but I had a misdiagnosis that was to have me chopped down in my 20s. That was a sobering change in perspective... but I kinda feel like having been even erroneously close to death gave me a super power... better time management, more empathetic, cry harder, laugh louder kinda thing.
@@ikesours6558 can’t say it had the same effect on me but am glad for your positive outlook, as for suicide, personally, I wasn’t in the right mind when i thought about it and later was glad i didn’t go through with it, now, if the pain is constant and intolerable, i don’t know my friend
I also connected emotionally to this movie. I’m tearing up thinking about it. Losing family members and losing the homes I spent my formative years in with my cousins, my first friends. The matriarchs of our family made those houses a home for us. ❤
Beautiful comment. Bittersweet.
Great scene and cinematography at 4:54. We see that she momentarily looks to be ghost as well. She seems to walk through the wall towards us, and then the reveal that it is only her reflection in a window. Not her time yet, but for us, another memento mori that even for those who live onwards - everyone gets a turn...
An amazing film. Jung would have liked it.
My moms house was just recently torn down. We were the only ones to ever live there and i raised my 3 sons there. My mom passed in 2020 and my son passed in 2023. I wonder if they have been affected by the destruction of our only home? Oh God.
@@jenniferflores3360 Oh man, I’m so sorry for your losses. I can’t imagine the pain. Remember, the love we feel for those still with us and those no longer with us is eternal. I hope you’re doing well.
I've been waiting on a video essay on this. A Ghost Story is one of the best films of the 2010s and I have never forgotten it.
The profound sadness I felt during this movie was shocking and I couldn't believe that such a simple premise and presentation could be so effective. People will note the flaws, but I wish all films would be half as effective at whatever it is they are most trying to accomplish at their core. Going forward, whenever I see Lowery attached to a movie, I take notice.
this
This film stays with you in a uniquely stirring way. Still think about it today. A truly great movie.
I absolutely loved this film.
It's incredibly thought provoking and emotionally intense.
I've always though it strange how it kinda disappeared not long after release.
Thank you for bringing it into the light.
2:43 minutes into this video, I paused it to go watch the film myself. Absolutely beautiful film... I'm speechless. A true masterpiece of cinema, one that will stay with you after the credits roll -- especially if you have experienced the sorrow of loss first hand. Captivating performances, cinematography, sound design, story telling. My goodness, beautiful, huge fan. Thank you for the recommendation.
The saying "life isn't a problem to be solved but a reality to experience" is something I feel more people should hear and internalize cause when you do it just hit's different, so much so were you have to go "DAMN" outloud.
Yeah this is a beautiful movie. Rooney Mara usually chooses good movies to be in. Song to Song was really good as well.
This move captivated me completely. As I was watching it, it didn't even register that the pie scene was that long. I was utterly entranced almost from the very start - and once I was immersed, it did not stop until the last frame. It is breathtaking, heartbreaking, beautiful, and haunting in the most painfully human way.
i missed this when it came out and hadn't heard of it. I watched it about a month ago and loved it! So beautiful and unique. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time. And I love the soundtrack, it really helped make this movie. My favourite is the track playing at the beginning of this video. I listen it to it often. It makes me sad sometimes. And sometimes it makes me feel hopeful and peaceful
I love the bitter-sweet nature of movies like this. The main track from the film, "I Get Overwhelmed" by Dark Rooms is such an emotionally resonant song that I feel captures the tone of the film so well. Also yes that other track "The Secret in the Wall" is such a great piece of music. I also listen to it a lot. It's very peaceful.
@@xaybeast522 the whole soundtrack is wonderful and I honestly think the film would not work as well without it. Though, I have to say I don't really like the song haha. It worked for the movie though. "Whatever hour you woke" is also a favourite. Basically a string quartet version of "The Secret in the Wall" but it's somehow more melancholy to me and raw in this form.
This movie was like a flash flood . For the first 20 mins I was invested and till the one hour mark I was resisting the urge to just stop watching the movie. I still kept on because there was just 30 mins left and I'm so glad I did. the last 30 mins of the film hit me like a truck. I felt so lonely, broken and lost, my own memories of friends , family and people Ive loved flooded my heart. It felt like something was lost in me. So much was just expressed through the eyes alone. The neighbour disappearing and the world being transformed mixed with the sound design.....I wept . I agree that more than half of the movie is quite boring but the end makes it extremely worth it. ( the most genius thing about this movie was the eyes of the ghost , I could see so many different emotions in different scenes , I could feel all of it just through the eyes alone)
This captures exactly why I wanted to be a ghost hunter when I was younger. I wasn’t just seeking thrills. I had it in my mind that I could help them somehow.
@@chrishestand1 I’ve never heard this perspective on ghost hunting before. That makes it really wholesome!
@@xaybeast522 I mean. At the time I thought so too, but it ended a relationship. I’m sure the sight of me shouting at nobody to help them cross over night after night made me seem like a crazy person. Which I probably DID appear to be. I just didn’t think it was fun and games. They weren’t talking to me for MY entertainment. They all seemed the same in a way. Trapped. Confused. Scared. To me it was the same thing as helping anyone who was stuck somewhere. I just wondered what it might be like if I was the dead one stuck between worlds. How desperate for help would I be? How incredibly alone would I feel?
One of the very few films that makes a grown man cry...😢
the way I hit play so fast I almost went back in timr (the pie scene it's what made me fall for slow cinema)
Edit: I'm ugly sobbing. I need you to have a Patreon or sth your videos keep getting better whoa
@@leeeegolego2999 thank you so much! That means the world! It’s a deeply personal movie for me and getting to express my thoughts about it in this format was really cathartic. Also, I would love to one day have a Patreon after my channel grows some more lol. Thanks for watching!
Im so glad to hear someone talking about the great things this film offers, when it released I watched it w/my family and they all hated it but I really liked it, thanks for the video 💜
Thank you for watching!
I love this movie so much but I’m very careful with who I recommend it to. This movie gutted me, I was really affected by it for about a week after watching it. One of my best friends died a couple years ago and it breaks my heart to think if he could see things now, he would have lived his life much differently. He would give anything to have his life back. The now is the envy of all of the dead.
There is still time.
Good lord, I was tearing up just hearing you explain this movie. Oof. “I don’t remember”
I have loved this film since I first saw it when it was released. I expected a horror movie, but instead found myself deeply moved by Art. Nothing like this in today's cinema.
This moving really gave me a sense of panic of being stuck in a place. They did so much with little dialogue
Absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking film. Criminally underrated.
Wow. Just your essay and the visuals brought up some deep feelings. I'll have to check it out.
I cried so much with this movie
I’ve always loved that movie, but the way you described it is absolutely perfect. Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
I remember watching this movie not knowing what to expect and absolutely loved it. My wife (girlfriend at the time) who usually has no patience for these kinds of movies was absolutely glued to the screen. I remember feeling like yeah I just sat through a life changing experience. The song was great too.
The song that he writes and sings felt so relatable. Found this movie via a list on reddit during some dark days.
Not a movie to discuss at the dinner table, but beautiful nonetheless.
I love this film, and understand why many would not like it. The pace is the point of the films message. Also, the main character being able to convey emotion, and never seeming laughable or absurd, while draped in a sheet with eyeholes, like a Halloween costume, is a real feat. Nice commentary.
Incredible job. Beautiful work!
The artistry. The sincerity. The heartache. This movie left a quiet, scratching presence in the back of my mind. I think about it in the stillness- am I actually LIVING.
Marvelous work Xavier!
Forgotten? I’ve NEVER forgotten this film. ❤
@@rebeccahopkins9522 happy to hear it!
it's funny, if not downright paradoxical, that the movie uses a stylistic element that people invented out of necessity, because they remain too much in the future and can't live in the moment, to remind the viewer that it's important to live life in the moment.
other than that, the review has woken my appetite to watch the movie
I struggled to watch it the first time because of its slow pace but have watched it I think 4 times now - the viewer needs a quiet space for sure - the twists and turns blew me away - I recommend it to people who trust me when I tell them they need to see this movie. Maybe my favourite movie in my 68 years.
You’ve articulated an interpretation, of my most cherished movie, so superbly. You and me have supreme taste🤘🏽
I struggled to make it through this film. But there are films similar to this that were slow and when finally made it through to the end was surprised. I’ll have to give it another chance after seeing your video.
I didn’t like this movie, at first. My daughter wanted to know what is was about. So, as I was explaining to her every thing that happened I realized just how profound it is. Wanted to rewatch but just viewing the YT video on the movie made me extremely emotional. I can’t put myself through that for a full length film but now have a much greater appreciation of it. Also, A24 kicks ass.
my fiance passed and I never really dealt with it. it wasn't sudden, he'd been missing for months, but I still don't know how to watch this movie anymore. I loved it when it came out.
I’ve never forgotten about this
A ghost story is my favourite film of all time, i went through a phase of watching it evreyday before bed, its so beautiful and makes me feel so tiny in the universe that its weirdly comforting. I've made all my friend's watch it at one point to varying results. Its so good.
@@RebeccaDeaton-zi6dx I did the same thing for a while! I think about it every day.
As someone who also lost a spouse at a young age, this movie....I can't even put it into words. It means so much to me.
Wow this review is about to make me cry. I think I need to watch this movie now. I feel I will appreciate it a lot more than I likely would have if I didnt view this first.
Thank you for bringing attention to a film that made me ugly cry. Guess I'll go watch it again goddamnit
One of my fav films of all time. Lets not forget about the soundtrack. Damn
holy ghost this movie is amazing, yeah might be up there as a favorite now! Great video!
No Patrick Swayze and romantic pottery making in this ghost story, but I still liked it
I love this film and love this commentary. The film spoke to me in a profound way.
Grappling with the snappy brief and quick existence vs forever not existing (at least on the same plane) scares the shit INTO people. We don't even have to actively think about it. Eventually expiring even influences my videogames being organized because backlog seems permanent. So, I toil over stuff like that even though I have a healthy relationship with the end.
A similar movie but completely opposite in tone is Enter The Void. The similarities are definitely there in the disorienting realizations. I imagine a double feature would eff a person up in good and bad ways but both make that first breath, as the credits roll, a little more important.
I could not agree with you more. love you for covering this movie. Just hearing the title brings tears to my eyes.
One of my favorite films from this century.
I watched it kinda accidentally recently looking for something to watch and remembering this, thinking about something spooky (but not really liking horrors, especially the jump-scary/paranormal about exorcisms ones) and remembering this one being talked about a lot quite a while ago. And to my surprise it was beautiful ❤ I love movies like this that are not scared to make something to actually think about.
I watched up to 1:57 because I had to find out the movie name. Sorry for the low watch time. I’m going to come back and watch the whole video after I watch “a ghost story”
Watching the whole vid now. I liked but didn’t love a ghost story. I loved the sound track and the aesthetic choice of the bedsheet ghost. I hated the dude in the overalls yapping. Looking forward to hearing why this is your favourite film.
Oh I loved this film. Quiet and touching. Never occurred to me that anyone would find it pretentious.
this essay is beautiful, keep going!
@@adrianamora4600 Thank you so much! That means the world
A Ghost Story was a fantastic movie. Strange at first, then intriguing, then sad and filled with dread. I absolutely love it.
Not forgotten
This is not forgotten by me. I probably talk about this movie about once a month to someone. It's in my top 3 favorite films of all time, and it's why your video came to my feed so quickly. :-)
@@DUANEYAISER That’s so nice to hear. Thank you for watching!
WONDERFUL VIDEO!! This film broke me but I have so so much love for this film! :)
Thank you so much!
Thank you, that was absolutely moving...
I'm going to say not only do I agree with you, it's absolute beautiful
First movie I ever saw by myself ❤️
This was beautifully written and presented. Thank you.
Thank you for the video. I didn't know this movie existed. I did cried I guess the concept makes more sense when you grieve
it is this kind of movies that talks to us in a way that make us feel less lonely in this planet. All this will be gone, all we have done in this moment in time will be forever dust, and no one will remember us, and thas fine with me at least with me, thats fine...
I’m glad it’s not just me…I am the only one I know who saw it and I loved it. It was so strangely moving.
Love the ending, "what the hell is in the note" I asked at first... yet the true beauty of the story is that it doesn't matter. Let go.
Never mind, you actually mention it in the end.
Thank you for such a lovely review of a movie I haven’t yet heard of. Now I have to watch it!
Chorei assistindo esse vídeo, comentando só pra dar um up voce merece camarada xaybeast
This sold me on this film. Thank you.
@@GregAsdourian Thank you for watching!
Loved this movie back when it came out, have watched it so many times and even wrote my film theory final paper on the pie scene, but the amount of life that has happened to me recently I'm scared to revisit it. Feels like it might hit a bit too close to home now.
this film is pure existential
dread.
@@joukokulhelm6844 all it would need is some scary music rather than emotional music and it could almost pass as a horror film lol
@@xaybeast522 yeah, some jumpscares for good measure too.
Buu! Seriously I think this film often. I have fear of eternity, and the possibility that we just loop our life's without means to chance anything. Deja Vu and Jamaica vu gives me this weird feeling, like you seen this before, you know what you are about to say and what's goin to happen. But u just can't chance the course of your existence.
I remember this beautiful film; it does try the patience at times but that patience is richly rewarded and it really stays with you afterwards. I adore this and Arrival, which came out the year before (2016).
@@shaneodwyer6132 Arrival is another one of my favorites!
@@xaybeast522 it's jaw droppingly profound and sad...A very rare thing to engage the head & heart simultaneously and not in a manipulative, soppy or pretentious way; it's an incredible achievement. It made my heart swell and my brain buzz 😁
I can't understand people who don't love it!!!
This video is fire Xavier! Keep up the great work miss u!
I loved this movie, it's a very rewarding re-watch too
This made me want to watch the film. Thank you for your insight! Subscribed!
@@YuuKanda07 Thank you for watching! Fair warning, don’t watch the film unless you’re in a good headspace for it. It’s very slow and could be a chore to get through if you’re not in the mood lol. Just wanna make sure people who haven’t seen it understand that haha. If you’re up for it, it has a beautiful payoff!
this one is always in my collection since its release
this is my favorite a24 film for a long time.
Wow as soon as I saw this video today - I looked it up - as I really want to see it after watching your video - and they will be playing it at a cinema in Paris at the end of the month. Too perfect
Oh wow! So jealous you’re gonna get to see this in cinemas. The cinematography is mind blowing!
@@xaybeast522 yeah. I was shocked to see it was getting a showing. It’ll be great. Thanks for your review!
@@vibeology9432 Thank you for watching!
@@xaybeast522 it plays July 28. I’ll def let you know what I thought of it after the viewing.
@@vibeology9432 hope you like it!
A beautifully haunting movie!!
The only thing worse than being obsessed with your legacy, is knowing deep in your heart that you’ve stopped caring.
The beauty of film is that it's subjective, each person crafting their own meaning and story behind why they like or don't like a specific movie. I'm so glad many of you guys in the comments appreciate A Ghost Story, and I wish I could appreciate and love this one, but I'm within the "it's painfully boring" crowd. Although I find it unwatchable, I'm glad this wonderful medium has its subjectivity so that others can enjoy what I cannot.
I love this movie but it's one of those movies that i can't bring myself to watch more than once. It left a harrowing feeling inside me after the first watch
This film was brilliant i watched it in one of my life's lowest moment..when i lost someone..feel like the film was talking to me..its about the lingering feelings..and the pain of loss
I haven't forgotten.
I thought the party monologue was way too long. He could have said the very same thing more concisely while still doing it organically.
@@TheImprovised I actually agree with this! It definitely felt overlong and a little preachy. The reason I think it’s a good scene is mostly because of how it effects the ghost himself, because what the guy is saying is the opposite of what C’s ghost knows or at least hopes to be true. Regardless though, definitely could’ve said it much more concisely while still having it be natural, like you said.
Give a thumbs up to this comment if you sobbed uncontrollably while watching this.
LOVED this movie.