Pieces of April is a poignant, heartwarming story of family and the dynamics that either bring us closer together or tear us apart. Writer/director Peter Hedges (in a terrific directorial debut) takes us on a journey of love, hope, and redemption that tugs at the heartstrings without becoming maudlin. Hedges sure-handed direction is complemented by outstanding performances from a cast that sinks into their roles so completely you feel as if you are watching a day in the life of an average family.

       The story is actually split into two parts. One thread follows April (Katie Holmes) as she prepares Thanksgiving dinner for her family despite her obvious lack of culinary skills. When it becomes apparent that her oven is not up to the task at hand, April is forced to rely on the kindness of neighbors if she hopes to get the job done. What follows are several frustrating, and often humorous, encounters with the strangers in her building. Meanwhile, April's family has departed their suburban home to make the trek to New York and we follow them on a road trip that includes stops at restrooms so Mom can throw up, a road-kill funeral, and donuts at Krispy Kreme. Hedges does a nice job building a sense of urgency as the family moves closer to their destination and April scrambles to make everything perfect before their arrival.

       Holmes (Abandon, Teaching Mrs. Tingle) is a joy to watch. Estranged from her family for reasons that are never entirely clear, April is wounded and angry and Holmes lets those emotions bubble under the surface of her character while also making clear that she loves and misses them a great deal. Patricia Clarkson (The Station Agent, Miracle) is outstanding as Joy, April's mother. Joy is a woman facing mortality with fierce determination and a morbid sense of humor, a woman desperate to reconnect with her daughter yet filled with fear and doubt that the whole thing will be just another bad memory. The film is filled with great supporting roles including Oliver Platt (Lake Placid, Ready To Rumble) as the patient husband and father struggling to keep the family together, Alison Pill (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen) as April's self-righteous sister, Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher) as April's boyfriend, Bobby, and Sean Hayes (Win A Date With Tad Hamilton) as her creepy neighbor, Wayne. Honestly, there isn't one bad performance in the bunch, right down to the numerous bit parts.

       The DVD contains few extras: commentary by director Hedges, a short documentary about the making of the film (in which we learn that Hedge's experience with his own mother's illness was the catalyst for the script) and the original theatrical trailer round out the package.

Pieces of April is a wonderful film, driven by characters easily identified with and cared for. Don't be alarmed if, after watching it, you feel a compelling impulse to call your mother just to say, 'I love you'.