movie: Pieces of April
starring: Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson
genre: Drama
year: 2003
format: Shaw Video On Demand
plot: After learning her mother only has a few months to live, a young woman decides to put all their differences aside and make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for her family. The day starts off with the knowledge that her oven isn't working and she spends half the day hopping from one neighbour's apartment to the other trying to cook the meal.
This was a strange and sad movie. You see an extreme of personalities as people both come together to help, while others do their best to sabotage the day. From her boyfriend getting mugged and beat up while buying a suit, to her own sister coning everyone into going to a diner instead, to a middle aged couple teaching April to cook, and another family in her building that does not celebrate the holiday opening their lives to her.
It's one of those films that asks you to look deep into your own heart and see what really lies there. There is a sub-theme of "don't judge a book by it's cover." Which is played out in both the characters actions and some physical items (like the repaired turkey that had been butchered by a mean neighbour that is cosmetically repaired with dough)
It comes across to me as a one note. The lead is played a little too disconnected for me. I liked the idea behind this film, but not so much the outcome.
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