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How to Make an American Quilt (PG-13, 1995)

common sense media says

Rollicking, soap-like tale of women's love lives.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this girl-power-themed drama is heavy on the smoking, some drinking, and on illicit affairs. Several of the women cheat on their partners with others, including Hy sleeping with her sister's husband, Finn sleeping with Leon while engaged to Sam, and Constance sleeping with Ann's husband Dean. Dean is rumored to have had several affairs. The film also depicts the way in which women have had their dreams stifled by a society that wedded them to their home.

Positive messages: The film depicts systemic sexism and racism that keeps women from following their dreams. Anna's mother steals back her quilt and gives it to Anna. But the film's moral, that you "have to go by instinct and you have to be brave," is a positive one.
Violence: Glady throws statues at her husband in a fit of rage. Young Sophia jumps into the water and seems to drown.
Sex: Lots of heavy kissing among many partners and lots of discussion of love affairs. Some stripping and posing naked, though no breasts are shown. One illicit affair ends in pregnancy and desertion.
Language: Some salty language, including "damn," "s--t," "hell," "bulls--t," "son of a bitch," "bastard," "whore," and "asshole."
Consumerism: Glady eats Dreyer's Ice Cream
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Several people smoke, including Finn and Constance. Hy and Glady smoke a joint. Dean smokes a pipe. Sophia's mom is drunk and belligerent.
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More on How to Make an American Quilt

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about whether a film like this is really feminist or whether it's just reasserting old ideas of what it means to be a woman. Do you think the ideas about women and the ideas about men that it professes are true? Do you think it's a biological imperative for men to "flaunt their feathers," as Ann asserts?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In an effort to sort out her feelings about marrying fiancé Sam (Dermott Mulroney), doctoral candidate Finn (Winona Ryder) spends the summer with her grandmother and great-aunt (Ellen Burstyn and Anne Bancroft, respectively) in their rural California town. Finn's grandmother and great-aunt, with the help of their many friends (among them women played by Maya Angelou, Alfre Woodard, Lois Smith, and Kate Nelligan) begin work on a wedding quilt for Finn. The quilting time draws out the stories of each woman, helping Finn understand her fear of commitment, the legacies of the women in her life, and her flirtation and growing feelings for Leon (Jonathan Schaech).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The women are fascinating, and you want to hear more about them. They exemplify the very real reasons a woman might be afraid to tie herself down to one man. And the star power of the women playing them (including a cameo by Kate Capshaw as Finn's mom, Sally) is dazzling. To have a chance to see these talented actors come together to play off one another is a delight.

However, despite all that, it's hard to consider this a feminist film. There's a fine line between telling the silenced stories of women and dressing up a soap opera in Thelma and Louise clothing. At one point, Constance deadpans, "The hardest part of being a woman is having woman friends." At another, Anna says, "I've come to believe that (her philandering husband) Dean is more typical than not. The female keeps the nest and the male goes out and flaunts his feathers." What could be more "biology is destiny" than that? So be aware that the woman-power ethos is a veneer for a great old Southern gothic story and enjoy it for that.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Cast: Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Winona Ryder
Genre: Drama
Run time: 117 minutes
Theatrical release: October 6, 1995
DVD release: February 23, 1999
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: a scene of drug use, some sensuality and nudity.
This review was written by Heather Boerner
 
 

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luvpink
teen, 13 years old
15
 
Horrible
I watched ten minutes of it and had to turn it off. Heavy language and sexual references. There was also a scene with old women drinking pot!
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