| Director | Jonathan Glazer |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, melodrama, mystery film, psychological thriller, romance film, thriller film |
| Runtime | 96 min |
| Country | Germany, United States |
| Budget | $20 million |
| Box office | $23.9 million |
Sean and Anna are a married couple living in New York City. He is heard lecturing to an unseen audience, explaining that he does not believe in reincarnation. Afterwards, Sean goes jogging, collapses, and dies.
Ten years later, Anna accepts a marriage proposal from her new fiancé, Joseph. When Clifford, Sean's brother, arrives at Anna's engagement party, his wife Clara excuses herself, saying she forgot to wrap a gift. Instead, she buys a replacement after hurriedly burying the original one while a young boy secretly looks on.
Some time later, at a party for Anna's mother, the boy sneaks into the apartment and claims to be Sean. At first, Anna dismisses the boy's claim. When she receives a letter from him the next day, warning her not to marry Joseph, she realizes the boy truly believes he is her reincarnated husband.
That night, Anna and Joseph discuss the letter. Since the building watchman seems to know the boy and that his name is actually Sean, Joseph calls to obtain more information. When Sean answers the phone, Joseph rushes downstairs to confront him. He takes him to Sean's father and the three of them order Sean to leave Anna alone. He refuses to recant his story and she watches him collapse in his father's arms.
Sean leaves a message on Anna's answering machine, which her mother overhears. That day at lunch, Anna's mother mentions that Sean wants to meet Anna in the park and that she will know where exactly. Anna hurries to Central Park and finds him waiting in the spot where her husband died. He offers to submit to questioning.
Anna's brother-in-law Bob, a doctor, talks to Sean, recording his responses on tape. Sean answers all the questions, even providing intimate details of Anna and Sean's sex life. Sean is brought to Anna's by his mother and he is able to identify the associations between the dead man and different parts of the apartment. Everyone except Anna remains doubtful. Anna's family becomes worried, particularly her sister Laura, who treats Sean with contempt.
When Anna misses an appointment with her fiancé to spend time with Sean, Joseph begins feeling worried, not merely about the boy but Anna's odd behavior. His jealousy is made plain when he physically attacks Sean. When the boy runs out, Anna follows him and they kiss on the lips.
Anna seems convinced by the boy's story so asks Clara and Clifford to meet him. Clara encounters Sean at the door and we learn that she and the dead man were lovers. She asks the boy to visit her later. When Sean does, his backpack is full of Anna's love letters to Sean.
This package was meant to be Clara's spiteful engagement gift, which the boy had secretly unearthed and read the night of the party. The dead man had given Anna's letters to her unopened as proof of his love. When Clara points out to Sean that if he were really a reincarnation, he would have come to her first, he runs out, confused. The thought that in order to be Sean he would have to love Clara convinces him he cannot carry on.
When Anna finds Sean, she suggests they run away and marry when he is of legal age. He tells her that he is not the dead man. Anna apologizes to Joseph, and they are married near a beach. Anna wades into the ocean's edge in anguish after the ceremony. Joseph finds her to calm her, whispering into her ear.