Music in Movies: P.S. I Love You

I chose to analyze the music of the movie "P.S. I Love You." "P.S. I Love you" is about a woman, Holly, who is grieving over the loss of her husband. The movie shows flashbacks of their relationship as well as Holly trying to move on and forming a new relationship. Her husband was Irish so there are several scenes that take place in Ireland. Most of the music played during these scenes is Irish. This is an example of the music setting the time and place of the film. There is not much music played just as background music in this film. But if there is music playing in the background it usually had an Irish sound to it because Holly's husband was Irish and the film focuses on the remembrance of her husband. There are many examples of music used for psychological underpinnings. A major example of this is during Holly's husband's funeral. At the beginning of the funeral the music is somber. As the funeral comes to a close his best friend who is also his band mate takes a shot over his ashes and one of their fast beat Irish sounding songs plays. Everyone begins smiling and laughing in remembrance of him. Another example of music used for psychological underpinnings is after the funeral when the Holly goes home and lies down in her bed alone and begins crying. There is a light somber music playing in the background. An example of music used to tie scenes together is when the movie shows flashbacks of their relationship. As they show flashbacks of them meeting and falling in love there are a few love songs played that almost creates a montage of their relationship. One example of music used as a theatrical buildup is when Holly begins seeing a new man and they kiss for the first time. As they leaned in the music grew louder and faster which created anticipation. After they kissed though the music came to a halt and they began laughing because they had realized there was no chemistry.