Pieces of April
2003 Directed by Peter Hedges
Synopsis
Pieces of April is a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Peter Hedges. In his commentary on the film's DVD release, Hedges says the inspiration for his screenplay was twofold — his mother's battle with and death from cancer, and a true story about a group of friends whose plans to prepare a communal Thanksgiving dinner were thwarted by a broken stove.
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The annual Thanksgiving viewing of Pieces of April is always a pleasure. Love everything about this one, and I always notice new things with each viewing. What a fantastic soundtrack.
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We have a few annual movie watching traditions around our house. White Christmas and Holiday Inn at Christmas time, 2001 on HAL's birthday ( well, that's just me ) and Pieces of April at Thanksgiving ( Canadian Thanksgiving that is )
We just finished our annual screening, and I must say that this film still charms me every time I watch it. It's an extremly low budget ( shot on DVCam ) Indy, but with an exceptional cast including Patricia Clarkson and Oliver Platt.
I'm often bamboozeled as to why a small picture like this works or not. Writing? Directing? Acting? Scoring? .. well Pieces of April is the perfect storm of each. A simple story that is humorous and touching without even closely resorting to melodrama or violins.
I strongly recommend to our American friends that you give this move a go at your upcoming Thanksgiving. Maybe it might become one of your traditions too.
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As a Brit I don't really understand the whole Thanksgiving celebrations in the States. I gather it's a big deal and has the same importance as say Christmas or Easter and that did come across in a sometimes darkly comic drama.
April is the eldest daughter and considered the "black sheep" of the family. A tempestuous and bohemian spirit it is fairly obvious from the other family members that April has caused the rest of them a lot of worry and heartache.
The simple story of April and her invitation to the family to come for Thanksgiving dinner,this is a roller-coaster of emotions as things don't go quite to plan. With her mother suffering badly from breast cancer and expecting… -
It's perfect in its simplicity.
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είχε γεμίσει ο τόπος αφέλειες και κοτσιδάκια τότενες, πολύ στάιλισ γκόμενα η βλαμμένη σύμφωνα με την σούπερ κατερίνα και το αφισόραμα.
-τι γαμάτο σάουντρακ- -
This is a miserable movie. First the most basic thing is the cinematography, I have never liked this kind of cinematography, it almost looks home movieish but not quite. I can't explain it exactly but if you've seen it you might know what I'm talking about. But if the movie was well made I could enjoy it more. I am sorry though April and her boyfriend are the only likeable people in this movie. Her family is horrible. They also don't really give a reason why they hate April. They say she did drugs and that's about it. They way they talk about her though is that she has never been pleasant to be around. Her own mother…
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είχε γεμίσει ο τόπος αφέλειες και κοτσιδάκια τότενες, πολύ στάιλισ γκόμενα η βλαμμένη σύμφωνα με την σούπερ κατερίνα και το αφισόραμα.
-τι γαμάτο σάουντρακ- -
Best Thanksgiving movie out there. Exceptional performances by Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson.
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I found this delightful - such a small field to cover, this family trying without much hope to reconnect with their daughter/sister, this young woman trying without much hope to reconnect with her family. But there's a world of hurt here, (I feel that's such a shameful cliche to write!) but everybody's hurting! It's all about the long estranged daughter inviting her family to thanksgiving dinner, her having no idea of how to go about it really, her family trying their best and obviously expecting only disappointment. It is all driven by this girl's young man who loves her fiercely - everything grows from that. I'm pretty much a wooss - I liked it a lot.
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Pieces of shit.
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The story as written on a page is completely lucid; it is about -a girl who wants to finish her turkey-a family who wants to visit the girl, but can't make up their minds completely. However, it is a stream of consciousness, where one action inevitably leads to another; a film about people talking and doing, regardless of their "memories" or "logic"- the "family drama" which builds upon individual viewer's memories and feelings towards people they grew up with.
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this beautifully written movie about human relationships and family relationships is gonna make you cry. badly.
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Leider denke ich, das der Film an vielen spurlos vorbei geht, da es sich dabei nicht um eine große Hollywood Produktion handelt und der Film so mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit auch nicht in den Multiplexkinos der Nation zu sehen sein wird. Es lohnt sich aber allemal nach einem kleinen Filmkunstkinos Ausschauzuhalten, der dieses Werk zeigt, den wer “Pieces of April” verpasst, verpasst definitiv eine Filmperle des Kinojahrs 2004 und mit Sicherheit auch eine Filmperle der letzen Jahre.
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As a Brit I don't really understand the whole Thanksgiving celebrations in the States. I gather it's a big deal and has the same importance as say Christmas or Easter and that did come across in a sometimes darkly comic drama.
April is the eldest daughter and considered the "black sheep" of the family. A tempestuous and bohemian spirit it is fairly obvious from the other family members that April has caused the rest of them a lot of worry and heartache.
The simple story of April and her invitation to the family to come for Thanksgiving dinner,this is a roller-coaster of emotions as things don't go quite to plan. With her mother suffering badly from breast cancer and expecting… -
I watch this annually on Thanksgiving because it reminds me of my family :)