What's your story about?

We recently watched the movie Hereafter, starring Matt Damon and directed by Clint Eastwood. It was enjoyable enough--interesting premise, good performances (Damon's especially). It was a little slow and definitely character driven but I'm happy with character driven movies so I was content to see where it took me. I think Eastwood is a top notch director. I think some of his work is some of the best out there. I trusted that he would bring it all together at the end.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

***WARNING: Here be spoilers!***

The movie centers around Matt Damon's character, George, who can communicate with the dead a la John Edward or Suzanne Northrop. The way he connects with the particular spirits linked to a person is by touching the person with his hands. In fact, any time he touches someone with his hands, he immediately connects with a related dead person and begins receiving that spirits messages. Awkward! Imagine: poor George brushes your fingers while he's paying you for the coffee he just bought and suddenly your dead mother is in his head, begging him to deliver a message--likely an apology for some intimate, personal moment George really doesn't need to know about you, given the fact he doesn't even know your name. George once made a living doing readings but it consumed him and he quit, instead taking up a more "normal" life as a factory worker. The film does a good job showing how his ability is a curse as well (or instead of) a gift and showing that all George wants is to have a simple, normal life.

This is what Hereafter's story is about: George's struggle to find a way to either accept or overcome his ability and achieve a "normal" existence.

Naturally, part of a "normal" existence for George includes a romantic interest. The movie does devote a fair amount of time to showcasing George's painstakingly careful attempt to embark on a normal relationship with a very cute, sweet girl, played by Bryce Dallas Howard (whom I just LOVE!), and it's inevitable crash and burn when she forces him to do a reading for her. But there is no question that the story is about George's life as a whole--not just his love life.

Interspersed with George's story is the story of a reporter halfway around the world, Marie LeLay (played by Cecile De France), who gets a glimpse of the hereafter (see what they did there?) and becomes obsessed with her experience. We see her relationship and career fall apart in the wake of her search for an answer to the timeless question of what happens when you die.

(There is also a third storyline of a boy who loses his twin brother but that's neither here nor there for the purpose of this blog entry so I'm not going to discuss it.)

Eventually and, I'm sorry to say, quite predictably, Marie and George meet and when George accidentally touches her hand--gasp!--he is not contacted by dead spirits! At last he has found a woman with whom he can have a "normal" relationship! Now, don't get me wrong. My heart broke for George over and over in this film, and even once for Marie as well. I was thrilled to see them find each other. But I was also ready to see the rest of the story.

And then the credits rolled.

Oh, Clint. What were you thinking? You forgot what your story was about. Hereafter was about George's *life*, not just his love life. Great! He found a partner! He's going to get laid for perhaps the first time in thirtywhatever years! I'm so happy for him! But how is he going to make a living? Will he come to terms with his ability? Will he go back to giving readings? Will he ever see his ability as a gift as well as or instead of a curse? Will he repair his relationship with his money-hungry brother, who was so obsessed with the fame and fortune to be gained by his ability? These are the questions that needed to be answered. George's story was not about finding a girlfriend, it was about finding peace within himself. And, unfortunately, that story was never finished.

I found myself thinking about this in regards to my writing, especially in light of my recent revelations about TLOS and the work I'm doing with my revisions. As a reader, the only stories I truly love are the ones where the author really gets what the story's about. As a writer, I'm working hard to get that right. It feels like a lot of blood, sweat and tears sometimes but when I have experiences like I did with Hereafter, I know it's totally worth it.