Review of Pieces of April (2003) by Emily A — 05 Oct 2017
So underrated and lovely. I'm probably biased AF and am partial to slow-paced films, but this seems like the right usage of it for broad audiences. The close to real-time pacing of it adds to the frustration of April's character in how hopeless she is at cooking, and also to the tenderness of the gesture she's trying to perform for her alienated family.
The whole movie is about April trying and failing to cook thanksgiving dinner. That's it, and it is so moving. Honestly this is just a really tender film about forgiveness, gratitude and generosity and I could watch it 50 times.
It stands alone because it steers clear of cheesiness, and also shows the destructive and toxic dynamics that clearly did and still do exist in the family. It's about forgiveness despite it, not about the dynamics disappearing.
This is Patricia Clarkson, Katie Holmes, and Alison Pill at their best (but especially Patricia), and although I'm a sucker for familial reconciliation films, I would still recommend this to anyone.
On my top 10 favourite films list.
This review of Pieces of April (2003) was written by Emily A on 05 Oct 2017.
Pieces of April has generally received positive reviews.
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