The movie Practical Magic is about many things: romance, family, betrayal, and, of course, magic! But of the several themes packed into this classic, the one that stands out the most is that of the sisterhood shared by the two lead characters Sally and Gillian, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
Sally and Gillian are as different as could be, and have many conflicts between them - but what sisters don't? It's the very complicated quality of their relationship that speaks to viewers and makes the dialogue between them such a pleasure to look back on.
Updated on November 14th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: Practical Magic is one of those movies that tends to evoke the feeling of autumn for audience members. It’s beloved for its romance and its strong themes regarding sisterhood - not just between Sally and Gilly, but between Sally’s daughters, the aunts, and the coven that the group ends up building. The women in the movie learn to accept their flaws and embrace the differences of those around them. It’s so beloved that there’s been a lot of fan interest in the prequel series about the aunts in development, though development does appear to have stalled for the time being.
“There’s A Little Witch In All Of Us.”
Aunt Jet Welcomes The New Coven In Her Home
When Sally activates the school phone tree to get a little help for her sister, she isn’t entirely sure that the other moms will show up for her and Gilly. After all, they’ve always ostracized the two sisters. She thinks the only ones she can count on are the two women who work in her shop who think her witchy family legacy is amazing.
What happens though is that the other women surprise her, showing up with their brooms and embracing the ritual, even discussing moments in their own life that they don’t think can be explained logically. Aunt Jet welcomes them all easily, and she even tells them that they might not all be so different after all with this line.
“Since When Is Being A Slut A Crime In This Family?”
Sally Defends Gillian While Drinking
Sally and Gilly might pick on one another relentlessly, but they also are there for one another, no questions asked. So are the aunts.
When the four women indulge in midnight margaritas, they all take turns throwing out some of the insults that the people in town have hurled at them, but sometimes, they also throw out their own. One of the aunts remarks on Gillian’s talents lying outside of witchcraft, which prompts this quip from Sally. The aunts have always encouraged Sally and Gillian to follow their hearts and be themselves, and if that means having multiple relationships, Sally knows they don’t really have a problem with that. That family bond is part of what makes the Owens women some of the best movie witches of all time.
"Go, Sal!"
Gillian Cheers Sally On At School
Being a witch, Sally isn't very popular among the other parents in town. She does her best to fit in, but not much helps her situation, and this is shown in the fact that she is never picked to be put on the emergency call tree at the parent school meetings.
When Gillian gets wind of this, she shows up to the meeting and uses magic to get Sally on the list - prompting her to cheer for Sally just to let the women, and Sally, know that someone has Sally's back. While it shows how Gilly is willing to be the center of attention when Sally isn't, it also shows how much she's willing to do for her sister.
"I Miss Her."
Sally Always Misses Gilly
Sally isn't used to her sister not being around. Gillian was always destined to go off on her own, being the one who finds their small town tiresome and boring, while Sally only yearns for normalcy and to settle down in that very small town.
While she knows Gillian had to go, her being gone leaves Sally feeling aimless and lonely, emphasizing how this fictional sister duo always relied on each other growing up.
"Thanks For Being My Sister."
Gilly Truly Appreciates Sally's Help
Gillian and Sally are reunited after years, but not under ideal circumstances.
While the sisters stand stamping their feet over the muddy grave of Jimmy, who they have just buried, Gillian looks to Sally with genuine appreciation, and thanks her for being there for her.
"You Have The Worst Taste In Men."
Sally Doesn't Mince Words With Gillian
All the darkness of the film does not go by without some humor snuck in.
Sally says this line while she and Gillian drag the body of Jimmy Angelov across their yard, in an effort to bring him into the house and spell him back to life after Sally gave him an accidental over-dose of a drug that would stop him from being an abusive boyfriend to Gillian.
"Do You Forgive Our Mother?" "Sometimes."
Gilly and Sally Understand Their Mother
Gillian and Sally's mother is stated to have "died of a broken heart", according to their aunts, but when Gillian asks Sally if she forgives their mother, the implication is that their mother took her own life - likely as a result of the grief she felt over losing her husband to the curse.
This quote shows the shared pain the sisters have, but they also grow to understand how their mother could feel a love so strongly that she could get lost in the pain of it.
"You'll Never Forgive Yourself Unless You Get Up, And You Get Dressed, And You Brush Your Goddamn Teeth Because Your Breath Stinks!"
Gilly Shows Sally Some Tough Love
Sally and Gillian aren't in each other's adult lives very much - Gillian worries that Sally's children won't like her, revealing that she must have been gone for many years as they are both around ten years old at least.
But when things are serious, the sisters are there for each other to give both love and necessary tough love, like when Sally's husband dies, and she won't get out of bed. Gilly doesn't mince her words with Sally here, just as Sally doesn't when it comes to Gilly's taste in men. They can be completely honest with one another.
"Don't You Walk Away From Me!"
Sally And Gilly Disagree On Handling The Police
Gillian and Sally have issues that they clearly haven't settled with each other when Gillian comes back to live in the house.
Gillian has a reputation for being the one who walks away from situations, but when she tries to do this after arguing with Sally about Officer Hallet, Sally becoming angry at the mess Gillian continually makes, Sally isn't having it.
"You. Owe Me. Big Time."
Sally Will Not Let Gilly Forget Jimmy
Sally once again instill the sisterly humor into a tense moment the two women share.
Most people who have sisters can relate to the push and pull of such relationships, and how one minute they can be at each other's necks and the next helping them, well, in this case, bury an ex-lover in their front garden, because that's how much they love them.
"It's Gonna Be You And Me, Living In A Big House. These Two Old Biddies With All These Cats. I Bet We Even Die The Same Day."
Gilly Reassures Sally When She Leaves
Before Gillian leaves the house of the aunts, leaving Sally behind with them, she promises Sally that she will come back one day, and that they will live out the rest of their lives together.
This a particularly poignant quote in the movie because it places the relationship of the sisters above all others, including the romantic ones which often steal the focus.
"My Blood, Your Blood, Our Blood."
Sally And Gilly Remind The Audience Of Their Bond
Out of context, this particular line sounds like it could be one of the spookiest Practical Magic quotes, but it's not. This quote occurs at the end of the movie when Gillian is stuck with a piece of Jimmy inside of her, influencing her soul and causing her to lose who she is.
Sally gets her back by cutting open their hands, as they did in the beginning of the movie, and putting their palms together to reunite their blood and bringing Gillian back to who she is; a banishing of the man who ruled her, and allowing her bond to her sister to instead anchor who she is.