Depressed single mom Adele and her son Henry offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited.
Labor Day is an American drama film based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard. The film had a wide release on January 31, 2014, in the United States. It was announced in 2009 that the film would be directed by Jason Reitman. On June 16, 2011, it was announced that Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin committed to star as the film’s leads Adele and Frank, respectively. Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush co-produced the film. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 29, 2013, and on September 7, 2013, at Toronto International Film Festival.
About the Story (2013)
In 1987, Adele Wheeler (Kate Winslet) is a depressed single mom who lives in a rural home with her 13-year-old son, Henry (Gattlin Griffith). While they are clothes shopping, a bloody man approaches Henry and makes them take him home to look after him. The man is revealed to be Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin), a convict who is wanted by the local police after breaking out of jail.
Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Frank is a Vietnam veteran who returned home and married his pregnant girlfriend, Mandy (Maika Monroe), who soon gave birth. A year after the baby’s birth, Frank and Mandy had a fight, in which, based on his suspicions he asks if he’s even the baby’s father. During the fight, he accidentally pushed her against a radiator, resulting in her death. Simultaneously, through imagery, it is implied that the baby drowned. Frank was sent to jail for murder.
It is also learned as Adele tells Frank through flashbacks that she has had several miscarriages after Henry, the final of which is a full term stillborn baby girl. This has left Adele damaged and depressed which Henry’s father later explains to Henry as why he left her. Adele doesn’t like going out in public. Henry has tried to be both a son and a husband (innocently) but he realizes he can’t provide all of the things Adele needs. Adele is a passionate woman who loves to dance and teaches both Henry and Frank separately to dance. Frank teaches Henry car repairs and other handyman/fatherly things. He also teaches Adele and Henry how to play baseball and how to bake.
Adele and Frank fall in love and plan to escape to Canada with Henry. They begin packing the house and cleaning on Labor Day. Meanwhile, Henry develops a friendship with a mature, but manipulative girl named Eleanor (Brighid Fleming), and goes to see her one more time before they leave. She manipulates him into thinking Adele and Frank are going to abandon him and he accidentally reveals Frank’s past. Adele assures Henry she would never leave him. The morning they are going to leave, Henry takes a note to his father’s house and leaves it in his mailbox.
While he is walking home, a policeman (James van der Beek) offers to drive him home, and Henry has no choice but to accept. The policeman is suspicious of the packed car and nearly-empty house, but eventually leaves. Adele goes to the bank to get all the money out of her account, and the bankers too are suspicious. While Adele is gone, the neighbor comes over to give Adele some cinnamon rolls, and speaks to Frank.
She too is suspicious of who he may be. Henry’s father finds the note that Henry left, and calls the house wondering what is going on. Before Adele, Frank, and Henry can escape, the police arrive and arrest Frank. He ties Henry and Adele up before he goes out to surrender, so that they won’t be charged with harboring a fugitive. It is not revealed who called the police to report Frank’s presence at the house.
Labor Day (2013)
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith, Tobey Maguire, Tom Lipinski, Malika Monroe, Brooke Smith
Screenplay by: Jason Reitman, Joyce Maynard
Production Design by: Steve Saklad
Cinematography by: Eric Steelberg
Film Editing by: Dana E. Glauberman
Costume Design by: Danny Glicker
Set Decoration by: Tracey A. Doyle
Music by: Rolfe Kent
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: December 27, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, brief violence and sexuality
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