A widower and a writer in 'The Eclipse'

In "The Eclipse," acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson has crafted a film every bit as affecting and haunting as his plays.

It's a small, humble gem of a movie that in less than 11/2 hours proves McPherson's talents for character and atmosphere fit the screen as much as they do the stage.

Ciaran Hinds ("There Will Be Blood," HBO's "Rome") stars as Michael Farr, a father of a 14-year-old and a 10-year-old. Widowed for two years by his wife's death from cancer, he has continued a quiet life as a woodworking teacher in the Irish coastal city of Cobh.

He also is volunteering at the city's annual literary festival, driving around a visiting writer of ghost stories, Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle). Michael, himself, is haunted. He sees realistic, horrifying visions, including a premonition of his father-in-law's death.

Lena is badgered by a former fling, bestselling novelist Nicholas Holden (Aidan Quinn). Michael bonds with Lena, someone who understands his visions.

Hinds has a resonating gravity as Michael, a gentle man trying - and failing - to hide the weight of his demons. Grief hangs over Michael, and his visions are directly related to his wife's memory - he's terrified of forgetting her. The sudden appearances of these ghosts - very much in the flesh - are played like horror-movie frights, complete with shrieking music.

But by the final, frozen image of "The Eclipse" - an unburdened Michael strolling down the beach with his dog - it's clear what the film means: that grief can haunt like a ghost, and that it passes.