PIECES OF APRIL

Year: 2003
USA: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
UK: Optimum Releasing
Cast: Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke, Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr, Alice Drummond, Lillias White, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Sisqo, Sean Hayes, Oliver Platt, Susan Bruce, Adrian Martinez
Director: Peter Hedges
Country: USA
USA: 81 mins
UK: 80 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for language, sensuality, drug content and images of nudity
UK Certificate: 12A contains strong language and soft drugs use
USA Release Date: 17 October 2003 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 20 February 2004


Synopsis

April Burns (Katie Holmes) has never been on good terms with her mother, Joy (Patricia Clarkson), but in a burst of goodwill she's volunteered to host her family for Thanksgiving at the Lower East Side apartment she shares with her boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke). As if preparing a holiday feast isn't pressure enough, she discovers her oven is broken and has to search her building for one that works, making appeals to an eclectic array of neighbors.

Meanwhile, the Burns family is speeding down the highway towards New York recounting April's failures. April's father, Jim (Oliver Platt), is determined to have a nice day, but Joy persists in undermining his plans. While perfect daughter Beth (Alison Pill) reminds everyone of her sister's faults and Grandma Dottie (Alice Drummond) can barely remember anyone's name, youngest child Timmy (John Gallagher, Jr.) dodges emotional bullets by photographing every awkward moment.
PIECES OF APRIL is a funny and poignant look at a day in the life of a family striving to create new memories while making peace with the old.