Watch To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday
- PG-13
- 1996
- 1 hr 33 min
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5.8 (5,151)
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday is a 1996 drama film directed by Michael Pressman and starring Peter Gallagher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Claire Danes. The movie is based on a play of the same name written by Michael Brady and follows the story of a man who is unable to let go of his wife's death. David (Peter Gallagher) is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife Gillian (Michelle Pfeiffer) two years ago. He has created a world around him that revolves solely around his memories of her, and he cannot seem to move on. His teenage daughter Rachel (Claire Danes), who has also been deeply affected by Gillian's death, tries to get her father to move on and forget about the past.
When David's sister-in-law Esther (Kathy Baker) comes to visit with her boyfriend Paul (Bruce Altman), he is faced with yet another reminder of Gillian. Esther is convinced that he has delayed his life and that it's time for him to move forward. She suggests that he takes a vacation with Rachel to their summer home on Nantucket Island to clear his head and start anew.
David eventually agrees, but once they arrive on the island, he begins to see visions of Gillian. He has conversations with her as if she is still alive and even cooks her favorite meal. Rachel becomes worried about her father's mental state and, with the help of her new friend Kevin (Freddie Prinze Jr.), tries to jolt him out of his obsession with Gillian.
Meanwhile, Esther is dealing with her own issues regarding her relationship with Paul. She suspects that he is seeing someone else and is hurt and angry. But they manage to work through their problems and come out stronger on the other end.
As the vacation comes to an end, David realizes that he needs to let go of his past and focus on his future. He has a heart-to-heart conversation with Rachel, where they both acknowledge their grief and try to move forward. David then decides to scatter Gillian's ashes in the ocean and say goodbye to her once and for all.
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday is a poignant and emotional film that deals with themes of grief, loss, and moving on. The performances by Gallagher, Pfeiffer, and Danes are all excellent and bring depth and authenticity to the characters they portray. The cinematography, especially the scenes shot on Nantucket Island, is also stunning and adds to the overall mood and atmosphere of the film.
The movie is a reminder that grief is a process that can be incredibly difficult to navigate, and that healing takes time. It shows how holding onto the past can prevent us from living in the present and moving forward. To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday is a touching and heartfelt film that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the human condition.
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday is a 1996 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.