The Station Agent film review

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THE STATION AGENT

A big winner at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, The Station Agent is an offbeat and charming American film about a curious friendship between a dwarf, a hot dog guy and a ditzy divorcee. It's a film that will leave audiences with a warm glow, a smile on their face, and perhaps even a feeling that the world is not such a bad place after all. Not bad going for a ninety minute film in which not much happens.

Fin (Peter Dinklage) is a train-obsessed dwarf. He's also fed up of being stared and pointed at everywhere he goes, so when he inherits an abandoned train depot he decides to make a new life where he can avoid the relentless mockery of his regular existence. 'I don't talk much', he says at one point, and upon arriving at his new home he is aghast to find a hyper-talkative hot dog salesman named Joey (Bobby Cannavale) parked outside his door. Equally annoying is his inability to escape from the curious advances of a local divorcee Olivia (Patricia Clarkson).

Despite his best efforts to lead a solitary life, Fin is slowly drawn into a relationship with the other two, and he realises that they are three characters in search of a reason to enjoy life more. They begin to hang out together, drinking and getting high, and eventually come to an understanding about each other's company: if you have good friends, people who are happy for you to sit there any say nothing, then life is always better.

If all of this sounds like there is not much of a plot it's because there isn't. Instead, writer-director Ton McCarthy provides us with rounded characters and a feast of choice dialogue. He explores the themes of isolation and connection with a script that is both accessible and believable.

In the lead role, Peter Dinklage gives a brilliant performance. Presumably unafraid to embrace his own issues with dwarfism, this handsome actor breathes wit and life into his character and delivers one of the year's best performances. Bobby Cannavale is thoroughly entertaining as the high-spirited male friend, while Patricia Clarkson proves she is one of America's pre-eminent actresses with another standout role (following on from her excellent turn in Far From Heaven).

This is an unusual and memorable film that is likely to pop into your head days or weeks after you have seen it. For once, a Sundance winner that is worth its salt.