Pieces of April

2003, Comedy/Drama, 1h 21m

154 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Pieces of April transcends its small-scale setting and budget with endearing performances, playful humor, and genuine sweetness, resulting in a touching holiday treat. Read critic reviews

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Pieces of April Videos

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Pieces of April Photos

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Movie Info

Quirky and rebellious April Burns (Katie Holmes) lives with her boyfriend in a low-rent New York City apartment miles away from her emotionally distant family. But when she discovers that her mother (Patricia Clarkson) has a fatal form of breast cancer, she invites the clan to her place for Thanksgiving. While her father (Oliver Platt) struggles to drive her family into the city, April -- an inexperienced cook -- runs into kitchen trouble and must ask a neighbor (Sean Hayes) for help.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Images of Nudity|Drug Content|Language|Sensuality)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Peter Hedges
  • Producer:
    John S. Lyons, Gary Winick, Alexis Alexanian, Holly Becker
  • Writer:
    Peter Hedges
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $2.4M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

Katie Holmes
April Burns
Patricia Clarkson
Joy Burns
Oliver Platt
Jim Burns
Derek Luke
Bobby
Alison Pill
Beth Burns
John Gallagher Jr.
Timmy Burns
Alice Drummond
Grandma Dottie
Sean Hayes
Wayne
Sisqó
Latrell
Lillias White
Evette
Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Eugene
Peter Hedges
Director
Peter Hedges
Writer
John S. Lyons
Producer
Gary Winick
Producer
Alexis Alexanian
Producer
Jonathan Sehring
Executive Producer
Caroline Kaplan
Executive Producer
John Sloss
Executive Producer
Lucy Barzun Donnelly
Co-Producer
Lucille Masone Smith
Co-Producer
Lucille Masone Smith
Unit Production Manager
Holly Becker
Producer
Dianne Dreyer
Associate Producer
Dianne Dreyer
Script Supervisor
Tami Reiker
Cinematographer
Rick Butler
Production Design
Mark Livolsi
Film Editing
Stephin Merritt
Original Music
Linda Cohen
Music Supervisor
Laura Bauer
Costume Design
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Pieces of April

All Critics (154) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (129) | Rotten (25)
Full Review… Sheila Norman-Culp Associated Press Full Review… Antonia Quirke London Evening Standard Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media Full Review… Derek Adams Time Out Full Review… Natasha Aitken Empire Magazine Full Review… Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture Full Review… Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing Full Review… Matthew Lucas The Dispatch (Lexington, NC) Full Review… Kaleem Aftab The List Full Review… Nick Rogers The Film Yap Full Review… Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Full Review… Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile
View All Critic Reviews (154)

Audience Reviews for Pieces of April

  • May 26, 2010
    A one part great movie and one part bad movie. The storylines of Derek Luke and Katie Holmes are perfect and extremely well done, while the scenes with the family are the same cliche seen over and over. I think what also works extremely well is the cinematography and documentary look. It feels like you're living in this apartment building and taking a look at a real place rather than fiction. Overall, it works. It's just not as good as it theoretically could have been.
    Conner R Super Reviewer
  • Oct 11, 2009
    A generous, heartfelt little motion picture that helps us remember that excellence doesn't exclude compact, unambitious projects like this one. Pieces of April speaks to the human nature, i.e. our unability to express the love buried somewhere inside ourselves, underneath long-lasting resentment and different values. Its short running time still doesn't prevent us from getting inside these complex minds, and backed by all-around superb performances (Holmes and Clarkson getting the top honors), the characters in Pieces of April really resonate and stick with the viewer. Add to that an almost completely naturalistic flow of great dialogue and solid, unpretentious directing from Hedges, and you've got yourself a real hidden gem. Don't miss out on this one...
    Laurence C Super Reviewer
  • Nov 28, 2008
    A chaotic and different type of thanks giving movie with a sweet ending, quite underrated.
    Matthew M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 25, 2007
    A decent quirky indie film about an imperfect daughter having her imperfect family over for thanksgiving dinner.
    Nicolas K Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

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