P.S. I Love You was released at the end of 2007. It is a classic ‘relationship’ movie and I love it as much today as I did when I first saw it. It explores the relationships with have with our partner, mother, sister, brother, friends and most importantly, the one we have with ourselves.
From the onset we are given a birds eye view into the relationship between Holly (Hilary Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler). We see what goes on ‘behind closed doors’ and Holly literally waits until the doors are closed before she engulfs Gerry with her fears, complaints and longings.
Kathy Bates plays Holly’s mother, Patricia, with all the complications, concerns, hopes, desires and frustrations a mother can have for her daughter. Life is not a dress rehearsal! This well developed movie teaches us that the drama we generate in our lives serves to keep us away from owning our fears, facing the facts and taking responsibility for creating the life we truly want. Conflict keeps us separate from each other and at arms length from the things we want most.
We are given more insight into Holly’s character through her relationship with her girlfriends, Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gershon), who offer support, mate ship and comic relief in perfect measures. Harry Connick Jr. deserves a mention for his delightful portrayal of Daniel, a sensitive guy, trying to find his way after experiencing the road bumps of his own relationships. When we lose our way, we need something to hold onto, something to rely on to restore our faith and belief in what’s possible. Believing in a higher power provides strength at a time of great need and allowing others to help us navigate our way through a challenging time, can offer life-changing opportunities.
When we pay attention to the signs, our pathway unfolds before our very eyes. Our business is to create. “If we feel all alone, then we are together in that as well”. Follow the path of least resistance, look for the signs that guide us along the way, live life on purpose and remember, we are all in this together! “None of us get out of it alive!”
© Patricia Herreen 2013