To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday

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Michelle Pfeiffer's husband, television producer David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal), is partially responsible for this entertaining tearjerker about a widower (Peter Gallagher) who can't let go of his late wife and whose relationship with his adolescent daughter (Claire Danes) is stalled as a result. Invited for a weekend at the beach by his worried sister-in-law (Kathy Baker), Gallagher's character faces various humiliations (he's been set up to meet a single woman) and fatherly crises (his growing girl is attracted to a local boy). Pfeiffer plays the ghost of the dead woman and Danes is terrific, but it's Gallagher who gets a rare opportunity to carry the ball for an entire feature, and he does it very well. Michael Pressman directed what is, in the end, a very nice movie. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

I am working on directing the stage play...........2007-08-12

The cd of the movie made from the play TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY, was very helpful for me. The script was a bit hard to follow, due to the fact that one of the female characters has a masculine name. I also wanted to see the eastern seaboard style of beach so that I could make good set drawings and plans. Thank you, Betty

Forsake your dearly departed or you'll be sorry.......2005-10-08

B Grade movie, really poor script.
Bulk of movie is boring, superficial, stereotypical.
Real purpose of movie is Baptist condemnation of the supernatural.

Story line.
The wife of a couple deeply in love dies in a boating accident during a beachhouse visit. The husband feels a deep loss for two years during which he is frequently visited by the ghost of the wife.
On the second anniversary of the accident relatives and friends gather at the beachhouse and push the husband to come to grips with his grief and refocus his energy to move on with his life.

Overtones.
The leading man is depicted as unstable, self-centered, reckless, irresponsible, and fantasy-prone.before and during the two year period. When revealed to the those assembled, the spirit contact with his wife is universally condemned. His "giving up the ghost" is seen as a great relief and the first sign of maturity he has displayed in his life.
The daughter has dream sequence with the mother in which the mother coaxes her into a head-on crash with a car.leaving her frightened and distraught.

Media Messages.
The film illustrates the creation and reinforcement of a cultural taboo.
1. Spirit contact is dangerous, selfish, and emotionally unhealthy.
2. The personal grieving journey of another should be co-opted by peers.
3. Condemnation is the only acceptable response to spirit contact. There should be no expression of curiosity or investigation like "What did she look like?" "What kinds of things did she say?"
4. Messages from loved ones in dreams should not be trusted.
In short the movie creates a set of automatic responses all of which mitigate against a common sense acceptance and appreciation of the value of spirit contact with loved ones..
In life our conduct is about building bonds of love and trust with those around us. In passing over these ties endure and can be building blocks for a link to the beyond. When William Blake's brother passed, he appeared and taught the skill engraving thus providing humanity for centuries thereafter with icons known to all.
Many near-death experiencers have wisely learned that they must keep their wisdom to themselves. The inner teachings are sacred and must not be diluted and defiled by small minds. The same is true for after-death communications largely because of media images that create a cultural storyline like that in this film.

To Gillian on her 37th Birthday.......2005-09-07

An easy to watch drama (with some comedy) that is sweet but thankfully not the "over the top sweet" these kinds of movies often become. It's a simple engaging story that is very easy to relate to since the movie tackled subjects like loneliness, moving on, and connections in an amusing and ultimately heartwarming way.

Peter Gallagher stars as David who after 2 years of his wife's death Gillian (played by the gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer) due to a boating accident still cannot seem to accept the fact that she's gone. In fact when no one is watching he still interacts with her dead wife like she was still alive. That causes a conflict with his daughter who was having a hard time dealing with her mom's death because her father doesn't seem to acknowledge that her wife is already dead. Kathy Baker played Gillian's sister who wants to take her daughter since she doesn't think that David was capable of raising his daughter.

Peter Gallagher gave a great performance. He gets to butcher the song "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", compete with a nine year old in building a sand castle contest, and he gets to play the heartbroken man who was so in love with his wife he doesn't want to let go. It was a great part for him. Claire Danes once again showed her sensitivity as an actress as she realistically portrayed the aches of her character. Michelle Pfeiffer in a semi cameo role was luminous, in the few scenes she was in she lights up the screen like a goddess.

Towards the end of the movie, the supposedly rational Kathy Baker and Bruce Altman after giving lectures on practicality, responsibility etc. and how talking to your dead wife is silly, were both secretly jealous that they don't have that kind of passion for each other.
It's those kinds of moment that elevate this film into just another romance movie.

Grade: B+

Love and Loss-The most powerful emotions.......2005-04-28

This is a fantastic film, from the writing to directing to the score to the acting. Peter Gallagher is superb in conveying the torment and guilt felt by a widowed husband. This is a situation that occurs all over the world all the time-losing a loved one is probably the most trying event that any person can ever go through. It's perfectly paced. David Kelley is such a great writer, it's just a joy to let him take you on this ride.

People compare this film to the play too much. They're completely different, theater is much more dialogue, film much more visual. I read the play after seeing the movie first, and although I'm always tainted by what I see first, I still feel the film is better. The characters aren't shallow in the film-they're just what's needed for how many of them there are.

I can't imagine what it's like to lose someone you love. I'm sure I will someday, but after watching this film you'll see how it can drive someone nearly mad trying to move on with their lives. A beautiful achievement.

He knows she's dead.......2004-09-28

Here's the thing about this movie: He knows she's dead. A lot of the other reviewers here seem to forget that he acknowledges she's dead but that doesn't matter. She is dead but not gone. For some people, that statement sounds like some kind of sacchrine line to calm children. Sometimes it's the truth, though, and that's what this movie is about.

The movie does take itself seriously, but the subject IS serious. This is a solid movie, it's not a great film. Taking yourself seriously is not the same as claiming greatness. David Kelly is a capable director and the cast has chemistry and participate in the telling of a good story. That's it. It's a good story, and a fine film.

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