Kelly Blatz, Ellen Woglom, Daryl Sabara

Sean struggles to cope with the loss of his friend April while the middle class suburban community surrounding Jefferson High attempts to pick up the pieces in the direct aftermath of one of America's...( read more  read more... ) growing epidemics, school violence turned media circus.

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56% liked it

80 ratings

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Andrew Robinson

Release Date: April 24, 2009

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DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009

Stats: 41 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (41)


  • July 8, 2009
    I was so deeply disappointed in this film. When I first watched the trailer I was sure that the movie would be a heart-breaking masterpiece. The real love story of Columbine survivor Andrew Robinson and Columbine victim Rachel Joy Scott is truly one that could break your heart. B...( read more)ut unlike real life, in the movie I didn't care at all for the characters. They weren't likable, I didn't feel their pain, it wasn't emotional and I spent most of the film thinking that the main female character was presented as a pretty silly girl with no depth and that the main male character was in serious need of a haircut.

    This film is over-hyped, has a deceiving trailer and fails in delivery. And I'm sad to admit so because I had every intention of rating it highly. I've seen many movies based on Columbine and this one is a poor attempt to talk about compassion, hope and forgiveness. The only emotional moment for me was the end credits where there was a list of all the major US school shootings that occurred. Other than that, I was left indifferent.
  • June 29, 2009
    A compelling, indie drama with an interesting non-linear style of storytelling about a shooting at an average American high school. One fact of note here is that the writer and director of this film, Andrew Robinson, is himself a Columbine graduate and a survivor of the tragic 19...( read more)99 shooting. Robinson's unique perspective lends a deeply personal and jarringly real quality to the film. This film is also no doubt a landmark in Robinson's own journey to cope in some way with the unfathomably traumatic event that happened to him ten years prior.

    The story focuses on the survivors of the shooting rather than on the shooter himself. After all, these were the people Robinson likely knew and understood best. The non-linear format allows us to escape the confines of the horrific event going on at the school that day and get to know the characters and their struggles. We get a glimpse at the unimaginable aftermath that these survivors, like Robinson, must now live and deal with. Much of the film centers around one survivor in particular, a boy named Sean. Sean is left to cope with the horror he witnesses that day as well as the loss of close friends.

    Something I personally connected with is the idea that you always think there will be more time. Sean's time with his friend April was cut short, and he was left with unfinished business that will never be truly resolved.

    I found this movie to be bold, emotional, captivating, awakening, and provokative. It's one I'd recommend, and one I won't soon forget.
  • October 30, 2009
    WOW i love to see a real story
  • October 22, 2009
    Another tragic film that was heartbreaking to watch. I'm drawn to films like this.
  • October 13, 2009
    Plot 3
    Production 3
    Entertainment 3
    Characters 3
    Originality 3
  • September 7, 2009
    Sad , very very sad. Film is not as well as Gus van Sant's Elephant, but still alright. Specially highlighting on going tragedy after a school massacre. At the end , there is a long list about all school massacres. Very very sad. Construction of the film is weak. Good touch.
  • July 25, 2009
    Now here is good solid movie from start to finish does not lose itself in the tellinf of the story why not theatrical release is beyond me would hold up in theatres
  • July 24, 2009
    I was rather disappointed by this film. Movies of this subject always make me emotional. And I wont lie, I cried near the end of this movie, but as far as im concerned it had nothing to do with the movie. I was only crying because i was imagining personally living through those k...( read more)ind of horrors. But as for the movie itself, it all happened to fast. there was no lead up. so we werent able to really connect or understand any of the characters. there were some flashbacks meant to establish that, but they didnt do anything. So honestly it was very weak and not pulled off well as far as im concerned.
  • July 17, 2009
    A friend recommended that I watch this film because I love the Gus Van Sant film 'Elephent' so much and both films deal with similar issues.
    In some ways this film holds so much more emotion and depth than Van Sant's, which is hardly suprising considering 'April Showers' deals ...( read more)with the tramatic experience of living with the aftermath (whereas 'Elephent' is used as a way of examining what makes young people walk into a school holding a gun) and was based on the directors real experience of living through the Columbine shooting. The fact that the main characters we were presented with were not only friends with April (one of the victims) but also with the shooter was something else which added to the heartbreaking reality the story had. One of the saddest moments for me was watching Sean inform Nick that it was his best friend who had been shooting at them - watching Nick's devastated reaction and his refusal to accept the truth almost broke my heart. I also felt huge sympathy for Jason, a boy who blamed himself for certain factors outside of his control. He didn't ask for someone to come in and turn his world upside down, and he didn't deserve to feel so guilty over his actions when that happened.
    I also thought the camera work and the cinematography and some of the music help to add to the sober feeling the film possed. That said I still think Van Sant's use of cinematography, camera angles and CCTV type footage was better, which is why this film looses out a little to 'Elephent' in my mind - that said I still thought this film was a beautifuly told tragic story and it is worth watching. And when the credits rolled the list of names of people who have died in American school shootings is chilling, especially because there are so many we don't even hear about.
  • June 27, 2009
    Im not gunna rush to see this one!

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