For my money, Truly, Madly, Deeply is Alan Rickman’s greatest work. The story of a man who dies, but returns to his beloved as a ghost, is a masterpiece that captures just how hard it is to let go of a loved one who’s gone.
I’ve always thought of Rickman as the star of Truly, Madly, who happened to be in the Harry Potter movies and some other things as well. His performance in this film is just so indelible and unique—the playfulness, with a bit of an edge to it, is just amazing. And the story of a woman who loses her true love, but then finds that getting him back is not as wonderful as she’d hoped, is so incredibly subtle and underplayed, it’s brilliant. If you’re missing the incredible talent that we lost today as much as I am, then Truly, Madly, Deeply is a terrific way to remember just how great he was. Even if it will make you incredibly, unbearably, horrendously sad.
Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All The Birds in the Sky, coming Jan 26 from Tor Books. Follow her on Twitter, and email her.