To Gillian on her 37th Birthday (1996)
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
This is a sweet movie with a sad but heartwarming story and some very fine acting.
Exactly two years ago, on Gillian's 35th birthday, the Lewis family, consisting of Gillian (Michelle Pfeiffer), her husband Daniel (Peter Gallagher) and daughter Rachel (Claire Danes) were out sailing. Gillian, in a very happy mood, climbed the mast, when a gust of wind suddenly hit the sail and she was thrown to the deck and killed. Now, (It would have been Gillian's 37th Birthday) Daniel cannot forget her for a moment; in fact he has been "seeing" her at the beach and "talking" with her as if she were still alive.
As his sister-in-law, Esther, (Kathy Baker) points out to David, his obsession with his dead wife has estranged his relationship with his daughter and Esther is going to go to court to obtain custody of the young teenager unless Daniel can let go of his wife and return to a normal existence. Daniel will have to make his move.
Others in the cast include Wendy Crewson, Bruce Altman, Laurie Fortier and Freddie Prinze, Jr.
All the acting is of high caliber and that helps make the movie believable and touching.
Directed by Michael Pressman who also directed the 1985 West Coast stage production. He is the executive producer of the TV series PICKET FENCES and has directed some of the episodes.
Rating 3 Bytes
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Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
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