Labor Day is a 2013 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.
Movie Details:
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Produced by: Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith, Jason Reitman, Helen Estabrook
Screenplay by: Jason Reitman
Based on: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
Starring: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith, Tobey Maguire
Music by: Rolfe Kent
Cinematography: Eric Steelberg
Edited by: Dana E. Glauberman
Production company: Indian Paintbrush, Mr. Mudd
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release date(s): August 29, 2013 (Telluride Film Festival), December 27, 2013 (United States)
Running time: 111 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $18 million
Box office: $19,296,451
Plot:
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, where she unintentionally revealed that he isn't the baby's father. During the fight, he accidentally pushed her against a radiator, resulting in her death. Simultaneously, the baby drowned and Frank was sent to jail for Mandy's murder. Adele and Frank fall in love and plan to go 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. 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 while she is gone the neighbor comes over to give Adele some cinnamon rolls, and speaks to Frank. She is suspicious of who he may be. Henry's father finds the note he left, and calls the house wondering what is going on. Before Adele, Frank, and Henry can escape, the police arrive and arrest him. 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.
Years later, adult Henry (Tobey Maguire) has become a successful baker and is contacted by Frank, who is getting out of jail. Henry tells him that his mother is still single, and Adele meets Frank at the prison upon his release.
