Drama,Romance
United States of America
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday is a 1996 American drama film directed by Michael Pressman and starring Peter Gallagher and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film is based on a play of the same name by Michael Brady.
David Lewis (Gallagher) is a widower struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife, Gillian (Pfeiffer), who died in a boating accident two years ago. David is still in love with Gillian and is unable to move on. He spends his time walking on the beach at night, talking to Gillian's "ghost".
David's obsession with Gillian's memory causes problems in his relationship with his teenage daughter, Rachel (Claire Danes), and his brother-in-law, Kevin (Bruce Altman). Rachel is frustrated with her father's inability to move on and wants him to focus on her needs instead. Kevin is a successful businessman who thinks David needs to start living in the real world again.
One weekend, David invites his friends and family to his beach house to celebrate Gillian's birthday. He plans a ceremony to scatter her ashes, but things don't go as planned. Rachel's boyfriend, Kevin's wife, and David's sister all get caught up in their own dramas, leading to emotional outbursts and confrontations.
As the weekend progresses, David begins to realize that he needs to let go of his past and start living in the present. He realizes that he can still love and cherish Gillian's memory without being held back by it. At the end of the film, David scatters Gillian's ashes in the ocean, letting her go and making steps towards moving on with his life.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances of the actors but criticizing the slow pacing of the story. However, it was a box office success, grossing over $18 million worldwide.
