Tomorrow, April 29, 2014, the film Labor Day, staring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, will be available on Blu-ray and DVD.
I did not see the film when it was in theaters but I was intrigued by the movie’s trailer. I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to review the film.
Labor Day is a romantic love story with a unique twist.
The story is narrated by Henry (played by Gattlin Griffith), a 13 year old boy who lives with his single mother after his parent’s divorce. Henry’s father Gerald has gone on to remarry and now has stepchildren and a biological child with his wife. Henry spends time with his father and new family from time to time. He mostly stays home with his mother Adele (Winslet).
Adele is a very depressed woman. She seems to be going through the motions but not fully living her life. She appears to have social anxiety or even agoraphobia. The reasons why are not made clear until later on into the film.
For the most part Henry does everything for his mother, from banking to shopping. Once a month his mom does venture out of the home to pick up a few things from the store. On one such outing Henry encounters a strange man who asks Henry to help him. He tells the boy he hurt himself and needs a ride to the hospital. Henry questions him as to why he doesn’t notify the store and get an ambulance but the strange man tells him he doesn’t want to make a scene and worry the other customers. The stranger asks Henry to take him to his mother so he can explain.
The stranger makes it perfectly clear to Adele that if she doesn’t take him to where he wants to go he’ll hurt Henry.
It turns out that the stranger, Frank, is an escaped criminal. He was injured during his escape from a local hospital and he needs a place to lay low for a bit until night fall. He then forces Adele to take him back to her home.
Adele and Henry are afraid for their lives but Frank insists that he’s not there to hurt them and plans to leave by nightfall.
While he’s waiting for it to get dark Frank takes the time to do some repairs around Adele’s home. He even cooks Adele and Henry dinner.
Much to his surprise Adele tells Frank he can spend the night and he can leave the following night.
Frank is almost exposed when an elderly neighbor comes over to drop off excess peaches he had from his crops for Adele and Henry. After the neighbor leaves Adele plans on disposing of the peaches because they were too ripe. Frank has another idea. He teaches Adel and Henry to make peach pie.
Wow. I’ve never seen pie be made is such a sensual way before. LOL! If you have ever seen the movie Ghost and can recall the pottery wheel scene you’ll get the idea.
As the Labor Day weekend carries on Adele and Frank’s attraction grows stronger and stronger. Even Henry is starting to enjoy having Frank around. He knows that Frank is giving his mom something she hasn’t had in a very long time – hope and possibly the chance to love and be loved again.
During the Labor Day weekend secrets will come to light as well as the reasons behind Franks incarceration and Adele’s depression.
Will this love story have a happy ending? To find out you need to pick up a copy of Labor Day available where most movie are sold on April 29, 2014.
The making of the Peach Pie is important in the film. I don’t want to give to much away but I personally see it as a “release” of the many years Adele had been keeping herself down. It was a way for her to re-connect with someone again. I think it was important for Henry too because he loves his mom very much and it was the first time in a very long time he saw his mom happy.
In addition to a screener copy of the film to review I also received a kit to make my own Peach Pie and share with my husband, our two friends who live in our building and myself. I had hoped for another couple to come over but they had a chance of plans. That is OK. More pie for us. LOL!
I received a beautiful pie dish, crust mix, peach pie mix, a chopper (for lack of a better description), pie server and the book version of the film, in addition to the Blu-ray version.
The recipe card included in the kits reads as follows (in case you want to make your own peach pie).
Labor Day Peach Pie Recipe (adapted from the novel, Labor Day)
Ingredients:
3 pounds peaches, sliced
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 stick plus 1 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces
1/3 to 1/2 cup ice water
2 tablespoons Minute Tapioca (plus 2 additional tbsp to stir into peaches)
1 beaten egg
1 tbsp sugar
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the peaches, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir in 2 tbsp Minute Tapioca to help absorb juices. Let stand, stirring occasionally.
Preheat the oven to 400°. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, work in the shortening and 1 stick of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of the ice water over the flour mixture, stirring gently with a fork. Continue adding the water just until the dough holds together. Shape the dough into a ball and divide it into two discs, one slightly larger than the other.
Place the smaller disc on a sheet of waxed paper, and use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, dust it lightly with more flour. Lay a 9- to 10-inch pie pan face-down on top of the circle; flip the pan over and remove the paper. For the top crust, on a sheet of waxed paper roll out the other disc to form a 14-inch circle. Do not roll the dough more than necessary.
Sprinkle the tapioca on the bottom crust. Add the peach filling, mounding it in the center, and dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Lift the waxed paper with the remaining crust and flip it over the filling. Peel back waxed paper. Trim the edges of the crusts and pinch together the top and bottom crusts. Brush the pie with the egg Sprinkle with sugar. Poke fork holes or cut vents in the top crust. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
I tweaked the crust part and used a crush my mom taught me to make for apple pie. It’s pretty much the same except my mom taught me to cut the crust in stripes and criss-cross it on top of the pie – not flip the top part on it in one piece. I’m a total klutz. I was worried I’d do it wrong and the top crust would be broken up or folded on top of it’s self making a huge mess. The remainder of the pie insturctions were able the same except I should have used more peaches. I purchased them from the local farm and they didn’t have many decent ones to choose from for some odd reason. They also have multiple sizes in the same barrel and I think that is what threw me off as to how many pounds I needed to buy. I was “guestimating” at the farm. I should have weighed them. My pie was not as stuffed full of peaches as it could have been. But that is OK. It turned out great. Everyone enjoyed it.
If you would like to watch Joy Maynard, the author of Labor Day, create her famous Peach Pie you can see the video here.
I know how to make apple pie. Apple pie and pumpkin pie are the only pies I know how to make. I honestly would never think to make a peach pie. I’m glad I tried it. My kids also loved the pie. Now that I know how easy it was to make I plan on making it again.
You can also check out the movie on Facebook (Facebook.com/LaborDayMovie).
Here is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy and a pie kit in order to do this review and to prepare the recipe. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Mary Happymommy says
I’ve never had peach pie. It sounds good! Kate Winslet is great in any movie.
shelly peterson says
I really want to see this movie. The peach pie sounds delicious. Peach pie is my best friends fav, I will have to make it.