While the topic of life after death may be debatable for some, love after death is a certainty. When Jamie (played by Alan Rickman) dies, Nina (played by Juliet Stevenson) mourns his death greatly. She is having trouble recovering from his loss, while also having trouble in other aspects of her life. Her apartment is falling apart and infested with rats, and her handyman seems to be in love with her. She is seeing a therapist, and working through her emotions, however she is clearly not moving on.
Enter the ghost of Jamie. Jamie’s return to the living brings Nina back to life as well, but not in an entirely healthy way. They initially hole up together in her apartment, and she has difficulty functioning in the real world now that he has reentered her life. What is more troubling than this is the fact that he may simply be a figment of her imagination.
Nonetheless, Nina is determined to enjoy this reunion with the love of her life and they resume their lives together as if Jamie had never died. The story up until this point could be the fantasy of every person who has ever lost a loved one. There is, however, a bittersweet lesson to be learned in the latter part of the movie, which is beautifully illustrated through the use of a rather pertinant piece of poetry by Pablo Neruda.
Truly Madly Deeply is a wonderful showcase for the acting talents of Juliet Stevenson, and Alan Rickman turns in a perfect performance, as always. Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, Cold Mountain) wrote and directed this lovely film, and for any trivia buffs who may be reading: it was the inspiration for a song of the same name by the band Savage Garden.
Check the WRL catalog for the availability of Truly, Madly, Deeply.
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