Watch Perfect Pie

Perfect Pie is a heart-wrenching drama that explores the complexities of female friendship and the lingering traumas of childhood abuse. The film, released in 2002, stars Wendy Crewson, Barbara Williams, and Alison Pill in lead roles. Set in a small town in rural Ontario, the story follows the lives of two women, Patsy and Marie, who grew up together in the same neighborhood. Patsy, played by Williams, is a successful writer living in Toronto, while Marie, portrayed by Crewson, is a married mother of two, still living in their hometown.

The two women haven't seen each other in over two decades when Patsy suddenly returns to their hometown for a book tour. Marie is initially hesitant to meet with her old friend, but curiosity eventually wins out, and the two women reconnect over dinner at Marie's home.

As the night wears on, the women begin to reminisce about their childhood together. It becomes apparent that their memories are colored by the trauma they both experienced at the hands of a man named Francis, who lured them into his car when they were young girls and sexually assaulted them.

The film explores the lingering effects of this trauma on the women's lives, as well as the divergent paths they each took in dealing with it. Patsy channeled her pain into her writing, delving into the darkness of her childhood experiences and crafting a successful career from them. Marie, on the other hand, bottled up her emotions and tried to move on, marrying a local farmer and raising a family.

As the night wears on, tensions between the two women escalate. Patsy reveals that she has written a memoir about their shared experience, which has dredged up painful memories for Marie. Marie accuses Patsy of exploiting their trauma for literary success, while Patsy insists that her writing has been a cathartic process that has helped her make sense of their shared past.

The film is beautifully shot, with wide-open landscapes contrasting the tight interiors of Marie's home, where most of the action takes place. The performances are strong across the board, with Crewson and Williams especially shining in their nuanced portrayals of complicated, conflicted characters.

At its heart, Perfect Pie is a meditation on the power of female friendship, and the way that shared experience can bind people together across time and distance. It's a difficult, emotionally charged film that will resonate with anyone who has grappled with the aftermath of trauma or experienced the ups and downs of long-term friendships.