Griffin and Phoenix (2006 film)

Plot

Henry Griffin (Dermot Mulroney) learns from his oncologist he has at most two years before cancer takes his life. He starts on a journey of self-reflection--writing a novel and taking a psychology class at New York University. There, he meets Sarah Phoenix (Amanda Peet). She hesitates but then they go off and goof around and stay up to see the new sunrise. Griffin believes they are close but Phoenix sends Griffin mixed signals. They have a whirlwind of adventurous and almost childlike activities but Griffin does not tell her about his illness because thy mutually feel that they do not want to hurt each other. Phoenix keeps back that she has cancer and a short period of survival.

Phoenix helps clean Griffin's house and comes across books on dying and "living life to the fullest". She believes that these are for Griffin to work through his issues with Phoenix's illness. When Phoenix storms out she confronts Griffin about what she perceives is only his sympathy for her condition. Griffin then explains that he too has cancer and they fall ever more for each other. They make the best of their time together.

Griffin comes to tell her he that when he becomes too ill that he will go away and she should not follow. That he needs to do this by himself. Phoenix is first to get sick and shares the same wish to Griffin's. He is deeply hurt and overacts. He comes to realizes that he was wrong, but he decides he wants to spend the last moments of Phoenix's life with her anyhow. Griffin is making 'Christmas' for Phoenix, as it is her favorite season and it would be their last holiday together.