the premise of the death of a prominent scientist coincide with the birth of a child and the two soul merge ten year later be an intriguing one . but despite the effective cinematography and especially the exterior scene in new york city and there be a central problem to this film . the major problem be in the characterization of the child . the main character anna ( nicole kidman ) become attach to the 10 year old boy who claim to be her deceased husband . anna then develop an obsession with the child and throw her engagement to joseph ( danny huston ) into confusion . if only the child have some personality and have be able to convey some of the charm of the deceased husband and it might have be possible to become engage in this film a a supernatural thriller . ( when anna and the boy meet privately in central park and the site be sean death scene . a more appropriate spot would have be a special part of the park where the couple meet in life not the place where sean die . ) throughout the film and the boy only assert ad nauseum that he be the husband sean without give anna any hint of the soul of her former husband . if only the screenwriter could have develop sensitively and insightfully the characterization of the child and this film could have be stun . the credibility gap be too wide for u to believe that anna would actually begin to love the child a the reincarnation of her husband . it be also too difficult to believe that joseph and anna family and and the child parent would permit him to literally move into anna apartment . the most effective scene in the film be the moment when anna sister in law clara ( anne heche ) confront the child with her own secret pertain to anna and sean . the entire film might have resonate this level of energy if only the little boy have be give a personality . it be unfortunate that this little kid could not have be pair with linda blair character in the exorcist . now that would have be a perfect match .