And now for the new film by Clint Eastwood, HEREAFTER. While holidaying in Asia with her lover, French television journalist Marie LeLay, CECILE DE FRANCE, is caught up in the Boxing Day tsunami and almost dies; back in Paris she is haunted by images she experienced on the point of death.

Meanwhile in San Francisco, George Lonegan, MATT DAMON, is troubled by his brother's exploitation of his psychic gifts - he wants a 'normal' life and when he meets Melanie, DALLAS BRYCE HOWARD, at a cooking class he sees the possibility of one.

In London, twin brothers Marcus and Jason, George and Frankie McLaren, try to protect their alcoholic mother from social services, until a tragedy sends Marcus off on a quest into the unknown. Clint Eastwood, directing a screenplay by Britain's Peter Morgan, of THE QUEEN and FROST/NIXON fame, delves into the supernatural in a film that is reminiscent of the work of Mexican director Alejandro Inarritu - BABEL comes to mind.

Here are three apparently disconnected stories set in different parts of the world which inevitably link up at some point. It's an unusual theme for Eastwood to tackle, and there are a few bumpy bits along the way, but the director's innate grace ensures that HEREAFTER is, in the end, an elevating and in many ways, exceptional experience.

At The Movies
Copyright ABC