Wie verrückt und aus tiefstem Herzen (1990)

Wie verrückt und aus tiefstem Herzen: Directed by Anthony Minghella. With Juliet Stevenson, Jenny Howe, Carolyn Choa, Bill Paterson. A woman dealing with inconsolable grief over the death of her partner gets another chance when he returns to earth as a ghost.

“Having spent some time in the States, I got to watch the brilliant review programme starring Siskel and Ebert (rest in peace, Gene). Iu0026#39;ve now got a rather dated copy of Ebertu0026#39;s book, and his review of this film matches my opinions perfectly.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eComparisons of this film and Ghost are fatuous, since the similarities are only superficial. Yes, the main protagonists are a couple where the man dies and returns as a ghost, but thatu0026#39;s about it. Truly, madly, deeply is wonderfully involving – it has that indefinable something that makes you care about the characters, and pray that the film makers wonu0026#39;t cop out and go for a stupid ending.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFear not, they remain true to the rest of the film. If you only know Alan Rickman from his u0026#39;baddieu0026#39; roles in films like Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, this will come as a complete surprise. He plays the recently departed Jamie, who must hang around as a ghost until Nina (Juliet Stevenson) finds happiness. The film is slow-paced, but that doesnu0026#39;t matter – itu0026#39;s a wonderful character study.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf course, itu0026#39;s helped by having Nina played by the utterly wonderful Juliet Stevenson. In the early scenes, when sheu0026#39;s grieving for Jamie, her pain is almost palpable. Forget Demi Moore-style teary-eyed, looking ever more beautiful grieving – this is the real thing, floods of tears, almost incoherent, looking like crap, snot-nosed AGONY. The transformation when she realises that Jamie is still around is a joy to watch – as is most of the film, actually.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;Ghostu0026#39; for adults? In a way, but I think itu0026#39;s comparing apples and oranges. Itu0026#39;s a masterful character study, with a great script and a cast on top of their form. Well worth watching.”