A 1990 romantic comedy drama by Anthony Minghella. Described as "the thinking man's Ghost" it tells the story of Nina (Juliet Stevenson), a young woman in mourning for the love of her life, Jamie (Alan Rickman). So she's understandably surprised when he turns up in her living room. The two try to continue their life as before, but this becomes increasingly complicated, particularly when Mark (Michael Maloney) enters the scene...
Not to be confused with the popular Savage Garden song, which came out seven years after the film.
Examples:
- The Alleged House: Nina's new flat is agreed by all to be just dreadful. The plumbing is shot, and it's got an infestation of rats.
- Bittersweet Ending: Nina moves on from Jamie, deciding to pursue with happiness with Mark, whilst Jamie fondly wishes her goodbye, accomapnied by his ghost friends.
- The Cast Show Off:
- Jamie and Nina sing "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore".
- Minghella said he wrote the script specifically as "a vehicle for [Stevenson] to express all her talents. She plays piano, likes dancing and has a quirky side to her."
- Break His Heart to Save Him: Jamie comes back to tarnish his image in Nina's head to help her move on.
- Dead Person Conversation: The entire premise of the movie.
- Dogged Nice Guy: Mark.
- Elegant Classical Musician: Jamie, Nina, and later the dead orchestra.
- Ghostly Goals: To help Nina move on from him and find new happiness.
- Her Heart Will Go On: Nina is deeply wounded by Jamie's loss, but moves on in the end.
- Hypercompetent Sidekick: Nina.
- Our Ghosts Are Different: Jamie appears to behave the same as a normal human being, except he is permanently cold.
- Street Musician: Nina sees one as Jamie, then at a second glance realizes it was not him.
