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How To Make An American Quilt Details

1995 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 2055 members

Director Jocelyn Moorhouse's film adaptation of the novel by Whitney Otto stars Winona Ryder as Finn Dodd, a Berkeley graduate student on summer hiatus at her grandmother's home to work on her thesis and ponder a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Sam (Dermot Mulroney). Finn's grandma, Hy (Ellen Burstyn), lives with her .. Read more

Starring Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Baldwin
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse
Genres Drama

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How To Make An American Quilt

Director Jocelyn Moorhouse's film adaptation of the novel by Whitney Otto stars Winona Ryder as Finn Dodd, a Berkeley graduate student on summer hiatus at her grandmother's home to work on her thesis and ponder a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Sam (Dermot Mulroney). Finn's grandma, Hy (Ellen Burstyn), lives with her great aunt, Glady Jo (Anne Bancroft), at their idyllic Northern California home. The two fiery women meet with seven older female relatives and close friends for a regular quilting bee, led by Anna (Maya Angelou). Over the course of the summer, Finn contemplates her future while gaining insight into love and relationships from the different members of the quilting bee. Their experiences are brought to life as each woman shares a unique tale with the confused young woman. The interwoven memories of each sage member of the quilting bee--including Constance (Kate Nelligan), Anna's daughter Mariana (Alfre Woodard), and Finn's free-spirited mother Sally (Kate Capshaw)--become lessons in love, pain, and emotional growth for Finn as the women work to make her wedding quilt. Each memory becomes a vivid flashback subtly weaving the past and present together to create a colorful collection of stories, featuring young stars including Claire Danes and Samantha Mathis as the individual women in their youth. A tribute to women's friendship and camaraderie, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT shines with a cast of all-star actresses.

Starring Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Baldwin, Kate Capshaw, Melinda Dillon, Dermot Mulroney, Kate Nelligan, Jean Simmons, Lois Smith, Rip Torn, Alfre Woodard, Samantha Mathis, Maya Angelou, Claire Danes, Jared Leto, Alfre Wooda
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse
Studio UCA
Run time DVD: 1 hr 52 mins
Certificate Certificate 12
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 15 Jan 2008
Production year: 1995
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of How To Make An American Quilt

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    This low-key but enjoyable film, based on the book by Whitney Otto and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse (A Thousand Acres), features moving performances from the female-dominated cast. Winona Ryder stars as the marriage-shy young woman who listens while her older relatives recount tales of love and disappointment as they add squares to a growing and symbolic quilt. Some of the episodic tales work better than others, but all are interesting and there are splendid characterisations from both young (Ryder, Samantha Mathis, Claire Danes) and more senior (Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Jean Simmons, poet Maya Angelou) members of the cast.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 2 stars out of 4

    A formulaic film that manages to be a humane and enjoyable celebration of feminism without being merely an exercise in nostalgia, illuminating the struggles and triumphs of its participants in their unexceptional lives.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of How To Make An American Quilt

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  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    American quilt, mainly for chicks?

    This movie is what you you might term a chick flick, and it certainly is, but I, as man, enjoyed it very much, the acting is fantastic, and the stories within stories are brilliantly written and very touching, A great film to watch with your bird or yourself , but you might get a slagging if you put it on at the rugby club, great movie.

      • scott macmillan from scotland
      • Posted 28 Jul 2004 12:59

  • Most recent members' review of How To Make An American Quilt

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Better the second time around...

    I remember seeing this when it first came out and thinking 'more chic-flic rubbish' - but this time, maybe because I'm older - I thought it was ok.

    A tale of how women got to be the way they are now - their loves, lives, regrets and achievements. It's all a bit 'Ya Ya Sisterhood' and 'Now and Then' but it's worth watching for Leto's small, but scene stealing, appearance.

      • Melisa Tupou from Harrow, UK
      • Posted 20 Feb 2006 15:56

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2,055 Member ratings
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477
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268
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220
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95
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40

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      • Director Jocelyn Moorhouse's film adaptation of the novel by Whitney Otto stars Winona Ryder as Finn Dodd, a Berkeley graduate student on summer hiatus at her grandmother's home to work on her thesis ...