How To Make An American Quilt
Berkeley graduate student Finn is spending the summer at the home of her sparring grandmother and great aunt, where she intends to finish her latest thesis and think over a marriage proposal. As she wrestles with her decision, the women in her grandmother's quilting bee confide to her the stories of the loves that shaped their own lives.
Member Reviews
A Dismal Look At Love And Marriage - revsdd
Near the beginning of the movie, Finn (played by Winona Ryder) offers this rather drab and depressing observation: "love sometimes dies." Well, sure - and I suppose most of us have been present at its death at some point in our lives, but I don't know that I want to have to be in on the autopsy afterward. Personally, as obviously true as the above statement from Finn may be, I'll still take 1 Corinthians 13:8 - "love never fails." It sounds so much more hopeful! As for this movie, it was just a dismal portrayal of love, marriage - and men, who generally come across here as rather unlovable, adulterous and shallow twits.
Much of the movie is told in flashbacks. Finn is a young college student writing a master's thesis who gets engaged and then promptly heads off to stay with her grandma and aunt and their friends for an entire summer while they make her wedding quilt. The movie revolves around the stories of the women's loves - and, for the most part, it ain't a happy story! They've all failed at love in one way or another (or, more usually, the men they loved failed them) and they end up getting poor Finn to the point of wanting to back out on her own wedding.
From my perspective none of the performances here were particularly memorable (including Ryder's) and the characters not all that interesting or memorable. The movie ends with what appears to be some attempt at redemption, but you have to be able to stick with it long enough to get there, and then the redemption itself is a sort of qualified one as Finn ends her narration by essentially saying that she and her fiancé Sam might as well go through with this marriage thing because they have as much chance of succeeding as failing, and maybe their love will tip the scales ever so slightly on the "success" side of the scale. Isn't that heartwarming (or pathetic!)how to make an american quilt - Shoeprint
This movie shows how much the older generations keep secrets from the ones that they love about the ones they loved, or didn't love. The backflashes are often, but done very well with the clothing and items to depict the era. A great movie to watch with a daughter, or of course a girlfriend. Winona is a confused woman who wants to write her book and forget about the man that has asked for her hand. She wants to find out what is waiting for her if she puts that ring on her finger.Every woman will appreciate this one - Radio_Jane
The things we learn from our grandmothers. This is a beautiful tale about reconciling the past with the future, and the wisdom that comes with age, and a few broken hearts. Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn are in there niche, these are the kinds of movies that they are best at. Rider was good as well. It is a timeless story that all women can understand, far from your average chick flick.
Member Reviews
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A Dismal Look At Love And Marriage - revsdd
Near the beginning of the movie, Finn (played by Winona Ryder) offers this rather drab and depressing observation: "love sometimes dies." Well, sure - and I suppose most of us have been present at its death at some point in our lives, but I don't know that ...how to make an american quilt - Shoeprint
This movie shows how much the older generations keep secrets from the ones that they love about the ones they loved, or didn't love. The backflashes are often, but done very well with the clothing and items to depict the era. A great movie to watch with a ...Every woman will appreciate this one - Radio_Jane
The things we learn from our grandmothers. This is a beautiful tale about reconciling the past with the future, and the wisdom that comes with age, and a few broken hearts. Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn are in there niche, these are the kinds of movies that ...