Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)

Truly Madly Deeply is Anthony Minghella's first movie and an early Alan Rickman venue. Rickman plays cellist Jamie, who has recently died of a sudden illness, and Juliet Stevenson is wonderfully moving as Nina, an interpreter whose love for Jamie remains so profound that she can't let go. Suddenly, Jamie appears in the flesh to keep her company. He doesn't remember what death was like because he was under sedation but he seems exactly the same (except he's susceptible to chills). Her friends become even more worried about her as she withdraws from work and society for as long as a week to spend time with him. (Sex in their prior or current relationship is never mentioned or involved.) You really get a feel for Nina's inner life as she goes to work, visits her sister and her therapist, and encounters repairmen and would-be suitors. Truly Madly Deeply is implicitly poetic, romantic, and full of the sweet joys and sorrows surrounding life and death and love. Set in London, I would call it Ghost meets Last Chance Harvey (sort of). I finally obtained this long-term Save title from a competing service (see my growing B--ckbuster list for more titles). However you obtain a copy, don't miss it! Enjoy! 4 stars. (12-21-09 posted 4-7-10)