33) The Station Agent
Director: Tom McCarthy
Year: 2003
Plot Summary: Fin McBride, a train aficionado, receives unwanted attention where ever he goes because he is a dwarf. As a result, he is a solitary and reserved man who is suspicious of people. When Henry Styles, Fin's closest friend and boss, dies, Fin moves to an abandoned train depot in Newfoundland, New Jersey, the depot bequeathed to him by Henry. There, Fin meets overly gregarious Joe Oramas, who is temporarily operating his father's hot dog and coffee truck that is parked outside of the train depot, and soon-to-be divorced Olivia Harris, a woman harboring some deep seated emotional issues. Seeing beyond his dwarfism, Joe and Olivia try to get to know Fin.
I met Tom McCarthy in 2007 when his second film, The Visitor, played at the Edinburgh Film Festival and I was surprised by how friendly he was. Therefore, I decided to check out his Sundance festival winning debut, The Station Agent, the week later. At only 80 minutes long, The Station Agent is only a short little hybrid of comedy and drama, but it's one that is as poignant, moving and bittersweet as any two hour picture.
While the narrative doesn't do anything remarkable or out of the ordinary, it's the characters and their relationships with one another that makes The Station Agent such an essential watch. It's the first time I have ever seen such a human, three-dimensional portrait of a dwarf in cinema and, also, the first time I have seen a dwarf as the main character. He's not the comic relief or something to be made fun of here, you have sympathy on him for his fear of other people and his vulnerable and shy yet kind nature.
As Fin begins to connect with the people around him and find friendship at last, I defy anyone to watch this film without a huge, joyful smile on their face. It's an incredibly uplifting little film without ever being sentimental or melodramatic whatsoever. It's also very funny too!
Anyone interested in American independent cinema should start here with this beautiful, intimate little story from Tom McCarthy.
4/5
2 comments:
I shouldn't critique this film. I saw it when I was 11 and, obviously, hated it. Can't remember anything so I'll rewatch it sometime and rejudge.
Yeah I'd have hated this film at that age too. But I think it'd be right up your street if you gave it another go. :)
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