Pieces of April
| Pieces of April | |
|---|---|
Original poster
|
|
| Directed by | Peter Hedges |
| Produced by | Gary Winick |
| Written by | Peter Hedges |
| Starring |
Katie Holmes Derek Luke Sean Hayes Alison Pill Oliver Platt Patricia Clarkson |
| Music by | Stephin Merritt |
| Cinematography | Tami Reiker |
| Edited by | Mark Livolsi |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $300,000 |
| Box office | $3,272,028 |
Pieces of April is a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Peter Hedges. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. The name is taken from a 1972 hit song by Three Dog Night, which reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
April Burns, the eldest daughter in a highly dysfunctional family, lives in a small tenement apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan with her boyfriend Bobby. Although estranged from her family, she opts to invite them for Thanksgiving dinner, probably the last for her mother Joy, who has breast cancer.
The film focuses on three journeys: the family's arduous trek from suburbia to New York City, punctuated by stops for Krispy Kreme doughnuts, bagels, Joy's frequent need for a restroom or a joint to ease her pain, a burial service for an animal they hit, and various arguments and recriminations, as well as discussions of their disappointment in April; Bobby's efforts to find a suit so he can make a good impression on his girlfriend's relatives; and April's preparations for the meal, a near disaster when she discovers her oven is broken. With the help of various neighbors, she manages to assemble dinner, while learning to appreciate the importance of family and making some new friends in the process.
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 who had "borrowed" an apartment to prepare a communal Thanksgiving dinner. However, the oven in the apartment did not work so they had to go door to door in the building, trying to find an oven in which to cook their turkey.
...
Wikipedia