MacDonald, L., Newmyer, D., & Parkes, W (Producers), & Moorhouse, J. (Director). (1995).

How to Make an American Quilt. [Film]. Hollywood: Universal Pictures.


This movie shows the bringing together of many independent cultures, since we
all have our own culture.  This is a movie about a 23 year old girl, named
Finn, who is visiting her Grandmother and Great Aunt for the summer while
trying to finish her third attempt at a thesis.  Finn’s grandmother and great
aunt are making a quilt for Finn’s wedding with their friends.  Each woman is
to make one square for the quilt with the theme of where love resides.  As the
quilt is being made each woman’s story is being told.  Through the stories,
mostly of love lost, Finn finds herself and her story of love, while she
finishes her thesis.  Each story that is told, helps Finn to understand more
about the person and why they are the way they are.

My questions are:

1. The stories that are told are mostly done so around the quilt.  What else
could be used to form this bond by the women so they would share their stories
of lost love?

2. Since there were only two distinctly different cultures that were
portrayed, how would the story be different if more distinctly different
cultures were portrayed?   What if men played a part in the discussion?

3. Would anything have changed if the women had happier stories of love to
share, rather than love lost?

4. Since the stories the women told are set as far back as 1840, would the
culture of now change the stories in any way?  If so, how?  How would this
change Finn’s view on love?

5. The only two types of love portrayed were those of parental love and
heterosexual love.  If the story was written today would you show different
types of love to show the many different types of love portrayed in society so
readily today.  Loves such as friendly love, love for parents, homosexual
love, religious love.

Submitted by Anji Smith.


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