Lovestruck: P.S. I Love You is a beautiful love letter to the world, shows love continues to live even after death

A Valentine's Day celebration is incomplete without snuggling up in bed and watching some romantic films. There are many romantic films that you can stream for your special date night but I'd recommend adding the film P.S. I Love You to the watchlist.   

The 2007 film, directed by Richard LaGravenese, stars Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lisa Kudrow and Kathy Bates, among others. The film follows the story of Holly (Swank), a widower, who loses her husband Gerry (Butler) to a brain tumour. She is seen struggling to cope with the loss. 

The film is adapted from the book P.S.I love you: roman, the debut novel of the Irish writer, Cecelia Ahern. The film inspired several instances of a loved one, leaving notes behind for every milestone in their family's life. In one such instance, a terminally-ill father, Mitchell Whisenhunt, secretly wrote dozens of letters to his family in 2014, so he could be part of their life from beyond the grave. He wrote several letters for his wife and daughter for them to open over the next 17 years of their lives. 

One of the beautiful things about the film P.S. I Love You is that it does not make the story over the top. It is simple storytelling of a regular couple. The film, in fact, opens with Holly and Gerry barging into their small apartment in New York and arguing with each other. They are seen bickering and fighting and later, making up for it and apologising to one another. Despite knowing that Gerry is going to die soon, they don't pretend to have a 'perfect' relationship. 

The film takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The way Gerry loves his wife and plans and leaves letters for her, even after his death, will get you teary-eyed and make you wonder if such a loving and caring man can ever even exist. Such films do sometimes set unrealistic expectations from relationships but what kind of love would it be, if there isn't even a bit of drama and expectations. 

The film, though a tragedy, will make you fall in love with the concept of love. This is one of the very few movies where the emotion is so beautifully portrayed that even non-believers will start believing in true love. It proves how beautiful and powerful the emotion is and it is the one thing that we all need. It is the love that helped Holly discover herself and her passion. The romantic drama shows how love continues to love on even after the death of the person.   

It's been several years since I have revisited the film but the story, a few scenes and dialogues are still etched in my mind. The way Holly meets Gerry by chance and the way Gerry looks at her and gives a smile is so beautiful. He describes the scene so well in his letter that even if it had no visuals showing the two meet, it would have still sounded and looked beautiful as the viewers imagine it. Gerry is immediately smitten by her and he says, 'he's never seen so many colours on a person before' when he finds her lost in the sanctuary. 

The film has several beautiful quotes but thing one line by Kathy Bates towards the end of the film has remained in my mind ever since I heard it. She says, "Thing to remember is if we're all alone, then we're all together in that too.” It is a perfect wrap for the story I believe. Though we may not want to hear the bitter truth, it somehow comes as a relief as you hear it at that moment in the film. The makers have beautifully written the story and incorporated these lines well.     

On Valentine's Day, the film makes a perfect watch for both couples and single people out there. But as you settle on the couch with a bucket of popcorn to watch the movie, ensure to keep a box of tissues handy too.