Labor Day is a film based on the popular novel written by Joyce Maynard. Labor Day was released in 2013. Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith, and Tobey Maguire, Labor Day is a dramatic movie that follows the story of a depressed, single, middle-aged mother, her teenage son, and a convicted felon that has escaped from jail.

Kate Winslet’s character, Adele Wheeler, and her son, Henry are shopping when a bloody man, Frank Chambers, approaches and makes them take him to their home. Once they are safely tucked away in Adele’s home, we learn both histories through flashbacks. Frank is a Vietnam veteran that was convicted of killing his wife and child. Adele is a single mom whose depression has been brought on by multiple miscarriages and a stillborn daughter. They fall in love and quickly decide all three of them will move to Canada.

Henry is a thirteen-year-old boy that lives with his mom. In the few days Frank is in his life, Henry learns how to repair cars, play baseball and bake a peach pie. During this time, Henry befriends, Eleanor, a young girl that he makes one last visit with before they run away. Eleanor leads him to believe Adele and Frank are going to leave him behind.

In the amount of time it takes to pack the car, make a trip to the bank to withdraw a large sum of money, and for Henry to say his goodbyes, police sirens approach the house. In order to save Adele and Henry from harbouring a fugitive charges, Frank ties them up and surrenders himself. Unable to help Frank, Adele writes him only to have the letters returned unopened.

 

Many years later, Henry is a grown up with a successful pie shop. Frank is released from prison and is reunited with his love, Adele.

In its first three days, Labor Day grossed $5,300,00 and ranked number seven. Altogether, this dramatic film grossed $19,296,451 worldwide. The film received mixed reviews and several nominations.