The Station Agent
Screening: 25 April 2005
USA 2003
Directed by Thomas McCarthy
Leading players ~ Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale.
90 minutes
Synopsis
Finn McBride (Peter Dinklage) is a loner, deeply mistrustful of other people because of his size. On the death of his only friend and employer he inherits a derelict train depot in rural Newfoundland, New Jersey. Keeping himself to himself he tries, unsuccessfully, to avoid engaging with the locals.Artist Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) almost runs him down (twice) in her car then calls on him to apologise and stays all night. Neighbouring coffee vendor Joe (Bobby Cannavale) finds Finn fascinating and treats him as a bosom buddy despite Finn's initial rebuffs.
Finn even attracts romantic interest from the town's nubile young librarian. Gradually, Finn comes to accept their advances, at first grudgingly and then responding in kind. When Olivia faces an emotional crisis she rejects Finn's help, leaving him momentarily devastated until he regains his confidence and, with Joe's assistance, gives her the support and friendship she needs.
* * * * * *
This is writer-director Tom McCarthy's debut and he brings the story of these three outsiders from society to life with a perceptive and subtle sense of humour and affection for the characters and without over sentimentalising them.
