The Pallbearer 1996

Overview

The Pallbearer is a 1996 American romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Matt Reeves in his directorial debut. The film stars David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette, Michael Vartan, Michael Rapaport, and Barbara Hershey. The story follows aspiring architect Tom Thompson, whose life is thrown into a loop when a mysterious woman named Ruth Abernathy tells him that his best friend, Bill, has taken his own life. Tom has never met Bill, and neither have his incredulous friends. Despite this, Tom foolishly agrees to give the eulogy at Bill's funeral. This decision sets him on a collision course with Ruth, who is revealed to be Bill's oversexed mother, and Julie DeMarco, his longtime high school crush whom he has not seen since they were teens and who temporarily returns to town. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at a film festival.