Year: 2004
Runtime: 97 min
Language: English
Director: Dylan Kidd
A lonely divorcée, Louise Harrington, finds her life unexpectedly changed by F. Scott Feinstadt, a new applicant who bears a striking resemblance to a former love. As Louise gets to know him, she’s drawn into a journey that blends the present with memories of the past. She grapples with questions of identity, connection, and the enduring power of lost love, ultimately finding solace and a renewed sense of hope.
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Louise Harrington, Laura Linney, is a 39-year-old divorcée and the Director of Admissions at Columbia University School of the Arts. Her only two close connections are her ex-husband Peter, a Columbia professor, and her lifelong best friend Missy. Her routine is unsettled when an application arrives from F. Scott Feinstadt, Topher Grace, the same name as her high school sweetheart who died in a car crash, and she calls the applicant to arrange an interview because the slides of his work were missing. His voice sounds strangely familiar, prompting Louise to travel upstate to her mother’s home to search for memorabilia of Scott.
When F. Scott finally shows up in her office on Monday, his appearance, mannerisms, and painting style bear a striking resemblance to the man she loved years ago. The uncanny likeness leads Louise to wonder if the young artist might be the reincarnation of her lost love. After she reviews F. Scott’s slides, he hurries out of her office, fearing rejection. Louise pursues him outside and convinces him to do a private interview at her home, where their initial professional exchange gradually blossoms into a private and dangerous attraction.
This affair complicates Louise’s life further, because her relationship with Peter is already strained; over dinner he confesses he is coping with a sex addiction that, unknown to her, plagued their marriage. Peter reveals that he had sex with nearly 100 partners, and claims that Louise’s cluelessness about it practically goaded him to continue. Amid these tensions, Louise also faces pressure from her ne’er-do-well brother Sammy, who remains the favored son in their mother’s eyes, and from her best friend Missy, who stole the original Scott from Louise before his death and now seems intent on pursuing the contemporary version as well, pulling Louise deeper into a web of memory, desire, and moral doubt.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:41
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Romantic second chances that are complicated by the ghosts of the past.If you enjoyed the complex romance and nostalgic journey in P.S., you'll find similar stories here. These movies explore love, grief, and second chances for characters rediscovering themselves, often blending tender new connections with the weight of memory.
The narrative typically centers on a protagonist grappling with loneliness or loss who encounters a new person who reminds them of their past. This triggers a journey of introspection, where the new relationship is interwoven with memories and unresolved feelings, leading to a resolution that is hopeful yet acknowledges life's complexities.
These films are grouped by their shared focus on mature, emotionally nuanced romances that are not purely escapist. They balance the sweetness of a new connection with the bitter reality of past pain, creating a deeply resonant and reflective viewing experience.
Stories where a mysterious new arrival blurs the line between past and present.Movies like P.S. that explore the unsettling and melancholic premise of a new person who might be a reincarnation or double of a lost love. These stories blend mystery, drama, and romance, focusing on the emotional impact of questioning reality and connection.
The plot revolves around a central enigmatic figure whose arrival forces the protagonist to question reality and grapple with themes of loss and destiny. The narrative unfolds slowly, prioritizing the protagonist's internal emotional journey and the building of a poignant, uncertain connection over solving a concrete puzzle.
These films share a unique blend of genres—mixing drama, romance, and a light touch of fantasy or mystery—centered on a specific emotional premise. The connection is based on a shared mood of uncanny melancholy and a narrative pattern of exploring identity through the lens of memory and love.
Don't stop at just watching — explore P.S. in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what P.S. is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
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