How To Make An American Quilt (1995)

A young woman (Winona Ryder) wants some time away from her fiance (Dermot Mulroney) so she decides to spend the summer with her grandmother (Ellen Burstyn) and great Aunt (Anne Bancroft). The women are part of a quilting circle creating a quilt for her wedding present. Each woman making a contribution to the quilt and each woman has her own story. Based on the novel by Whitney Otto and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse. This is a sweet little film, perhaps as flimsy as a piece of gossamer but its delicateness works in its favor rather than something more concrete which would have made for a more heavy handed movie. The series of vignettes which tie the film together are similar enough to have a deja vu quality but they form the foundation that allows some of our best actresses, young and old, to do some solid work. In fact, the cast is crammed with talent. In addition to the three already mentioned, there's Jean Simmons, Alfre Woodard, Melinda Dillon, Claire Danes, Kate Nelligan, Lois Smith, Maya Angelou, Samantha Mathis. Among the men: Rip Torn, Jared Leto, Richard Jenkins, Loren Dean and Mykelti Williamson. With Kate Capshaw and Jonathan Schaech.