What is the ultimate act of love? How do you show your wife you love her? Not with a diamond ring or a new dress. For Gerry (Gerard Butler) he does something much more important.
Holly (Hilary Swank) and Gerry are both young. She's about to turn 30 and they are completely devoted to each other. So when Gerry learns he has a tumor and is going to die, he gives his wife the ultimate gift anyone in his situation can give. He gives her back her life.
After his death, Gerry continues to guide Holly through her grief via letters that arrive at the most critical moments. Holly is languishing in her grief for her dead husband, and on her birthday a cake is delivered from Gerry along with a tape recording. He instructs her to go out with her friends and have a good time. For this woman who has hardly stepped foot out of her apartment in weeks, let alone bathed or changed her clothes, this is a difficult thing to do, but she wants to do what her Gerry asks of her so she goes out.
Later it's time to clear away all his clothing and she receives a letter from Gerry telling her so. No longer can she wallow in the closet smelling his sweaters and wearing his jackets. It's time to move on.
Slowly, over the next year Gerry guides his wife out of the state of grief and misery and into the light once more. He wanted her to have a full life, but knowing how deep their love was, he knew she would be mired in grief for a long, long time. It was only through his thoughtfulness and his planning right before his death that enabled Holly to get through the following months without her beloved Gerry and finally get on with her life.
Talk about thinking ahead. His love for Holly was so intense that even while dying he was only thinking of her and how he could help her after he was gone.
This is a powerful story. It's smart, sensitive, funny, warm, heartwarming, thought-provoking, and sweet. It's about a consummate gift of love from husband to wife. His letters and instructions give her direction in her new life as a single woman. Thanks to his forethought, Holly is able to live once again. And he always signed his letters, of course, P.S. I love you.
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