Overview
A Thanksgiving dinner goes hilariously awry as family dynamics unravel in a cramped New York apartment.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- scrappy
- heartfelt
- thanksgiving viewing
- holiday gathering
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a touching, playful holiday comedy elevated by endearing performances and genuine sweetness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
April prepares Thanksgiving dinner while her estranged family travels from Pennsylvania to visit her.
April's apartment preparations alternate with the Burns family's conversations during their road trip.
April struggles to host dinner in a poor New York neighborhood after her stove breaks.
Joy's metastatic breast cancer and her fraught relationship with April deepen the Thanksgiving gathering's emotional stakes.
Films like Pieces of April, and why
The Family Stone
shared dysfunctional-family comedy, holiday setting, emotional reconciliation, and ensemble performances
The Squid and the Whale
shared intimate domestic drama, sharp family tension, bittersweet humor, and indie sensibility
Home for the Holidays
shared Thanksgiving family gathering, uncomfortable revelations, ensemble character drama, and darkly comic tone
Pieces of April
shared warm observational humor, eccentric family dynamics, and low-budget independent-drama intimacy
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Hedges
- Release Date
- 2003-10-17
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (278)
Cast
- Katie Holmes
- Derek Luke
- Patricia Clarkson
- Oliver Platt
- Alison Pill
- John Gallagher Jr.
- Alice Drummond
- Lillias White
- Isiah Whitlock Jr.
- Vitali Baganov
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pieces of April about?
- An estranged daughter turns a broken stove and a Thanksgiving dinner into a scrappy chance for her divided family to reconnect.
- What is Pieces of April like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pieces of April as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Pieces of April violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Pieces of April.
- What did critics think of Pieces of April?
- Critics broadly found the film a touching, playful holiday comedy elevated by endearing performances and genuine sweetness.
- Which films are like Pieces of April?
- Films with a similar feel include The Family Stone, The Squid and the Whale, Home for the Holidays, and Pieces of April.
- How long is Pieces of April?
- Pieces of April runs 81 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pieces of April?
- In United States, Pieces of April streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
