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Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Maya Angelou, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan ... see more see more... , Jean Simmons , Alfre Woodard , Jane Alden , Adam Baldwin , Kate Capshaw , Loren Dean , Melinda Dillon , Joanna Going , Tim Guinee , Richard Jenkins , Samantha Mathis , Brian McElroy , Ari Meyers , Dermot Mulroney , Will Nipper , Derrick O'Connor , Charles Parks , James Rebhorn , Esther Rolle , Lois Smith , Gail Strickland , Holland Taylor , Mykelti Williamson , Rip Torn , Debra Stricklin , Claire Danes , Johnathon Schaech , Maria Celedonio , Alicia Goranson , Jared Leto , David Williams

A young woman at a crossroads in her life finds herself receiving plenty of advice from her older and wiser counterparts in this drama. Finn Dodd (Winona Ryder) is a graduate student trying to finish ... read more read more...up her doctoral thesis on women's folk art while deciding if she should marry her fiancé Sam (Dermot Mulroney); she's not sure if she's ready to settle down, and suspects that Sam is unfaithful to her. Needing time to sort things out, Finn chooses to spend the summer with her grandmother Hy (Ellen Burstyn) and great aunt Gladys Jo (Anne Bancroft). Hy and Gladys Jo are avid quilters, and with a group of their friends, they work on a special quilt for Finn's wedding; as the women work together, they share stories of their lives, and Finn finds herself learning as much from hearing them talk as she does from her schoolwork. Finn also receives a visit from her free-spirited mom Sally (Kate Capshaw) and finds herself infatuated with a good looking young man who lives nearby. Maya Angelou plays one of the quilters, as do Kate Nelligan, Jean Simmons, and Alfre Woodard. How to Make an American Quilt was the directorial debut of Jocelyn Moorhouse, and was based on a novel by Whitney Otto that itself began as a doctoral thesis. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

10,964 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

22 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Jocelyn Moorhouse

Release Date: October 6, 1995

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DVD Release Date: February 23, 1999

Stats: 445 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (445)

  • romy861
    December 29, 2011
    romy861
    I watched this years ago and can remember being quite disappointed with it. Enough time has now gone by that I felt like a re-watch. Has it improved with age? Well, yes and no.
    First of all, it is a little on the dull side. I don't think the story of a young woman, Finn (Winona ... read moreRyder), who goes to stay with her older female relatives who are part of a quilting circle would be too many people's idea of riveting viewing.
    Finn is recently engaged and has cold feet, so she becomes interested in hearing about the romantic lives of her relatives and their friends, which she is also using as a thesis topic. In flashback form, we see the disappointments and hardships these strong women have faced, as well as the parts that made it seem worthwhile. It's sentimental and a little cliched in that way American movies seem to be, but it is nice in its way. I think maybe it's a film that improves with repeat viewings, as there are quite a few female characters here, plus their younger selves, it can get a little confusing as to who is who!
    The acting is excellent. A really good cast here. I think this is more a movie to appeal to an older female audience. Not one for young girls as they will be bored, as I was first time I watched this, I was not at an age to relate to the older women here. Men also, I think would be bored - even older ones!
    I recommend it, but with reservations. Maybe one to watch on tv !
  • thmtsang
    August 11, 2007
    thmtsang
    Winona visits her grandmonther and joins her sewing circle and learns about their relationships. Touching movie.
  • jjnxn
    April 8, 2007
    jjnxn
    great actresses but it misses being being great by being too diffuse and ends up unsatisfying
  • garyX
    March 6, 2007
    garyX
    A sewing circle muses about life and love. Now THAT's what I call entertainment...
  • dreamfaeries
    December 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    It wasn't too bad.
  • crazydannielle16
    March 3, 2009
    crazydannielle16
    A wonderful, talented cast tells the story about a young woman named Finn who lives with her grandmother and great aunt for the summer while she thinks over a marriage proposal and works on a grad school thesis. A group of women who grew up together are all part of a quilting bee... read more and they share their love stories with Finn. She learns about love from their stories.
  • mvieaddict
    October 25, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Winona Ryder's role in this typical American movie, was nothing more then breathtaking. The message brought in here was clearly. It w... read moreas about a young woman Finn (Winona) who was about to get married with her long time fiance(Dermot Mulroney). She decided to pass the summer away from him to be sure of her feelings and to be with her great aunts. These aunts were quilt makers for years and while she was there they told her their stories of their past life.The movie unfold these flashbacks stories beautifully. So Finn discovered that love was not perfect, and that you must appreciate what you have.Good performances by Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn.
  • leekyle1968
    July 5, 2009
    leekyle1968
    One of my top 5 most boring films of all time list. zzzzzzzz nothing more to say!
  • ileo
    January 31, 2007
    ileo
    Loved it.
  • sman5
    March 22, 2010
    sman5
    I like the place of introspective comfort this movie takes me to. For one, it's a literary story with plenty of narrative, which always pulls me in and, Thomas Newman's lovely soundtrack really underscores the poignancy ?This is a fine story about Love through the eyes of flawed... read more humanity ?with the one constant throughout the movie being Love, in all it's various forms ?And, what you're left with is the continuum of Life transformation via Love's (not always easy but always enriching) lessons...

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Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
USA Today

Despite its hard-sell coming attraction and pot-smoking granny singing rock oldies, How to Make an American Quilt turns out to be a wealth of old-style Hollywood magic.

Heather Boerner
December 18, 2010
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media

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

Karina Montgomery
April 27, 2005
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina

winona spoils the lovely vignettes

Michael Dequina
January 8, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

The stories are uninvolving, often too brief, and they quickly grow tiresome and repetitive. Full Review

Alex Sandell
March 4, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Also known as, 'How to Make an American Critic Doze Off."

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 28, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Commends the value of women sharing their stories and secrets across generational lines. Full Review

Leonard Klady
March 27, 2009
Leonard Klady, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Stack
June 18, 2002
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • What 1995 had this tag line :There's beauty in the patterns of life ?  Answer »
  • who had the lead role of Finn Dodd in 1995 How to Make an American Quilt ?  Answer »
  • Which actress stars in the following movies: Little Women Mr. Deeds Edward Scissorhands How To Make An American Quilt  Answer »
  • which actor has starred in all these movies? requiem for a dream american psycho how to make an american quilt panic room   Answer »
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