Details

Small but perfectly formed, The Station Agent was the toast of the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, winning three awards including the prestigious Audience Award and going on to win Best Original Screenplay at this year's BAFTAs. Since its release it has been met with unanimous acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Available to own and rent on DVD and video from 13th September 2004, this delightful bittersweet comedy is a real treat, sparkling with a rare blend of subtle humour and touching poignancy. This oddball indie hit is an unadulterated joy - be sure you don't miss out on one of the best films of the year.

The Station Agent is an uplifting tale of friendship, skilfully directed by actor-turned-director Thomas McCarthy and beautifully performed by the three leads, Peter Dinklage (Elf) Patricia Clarkson (Far From Heaven) and Bobby Cannavale (The Bone Collector). The reclusive Fin McBride (Dinklage) is a dwarf with an obsession for trains. When he inherits a disused railway depot, in the sleepy town of Newfoundland, he seizes the opportunity to live an undisturbed existence, surrounded by railway memorabilia.

However, despite his efforts to cut himself off from human company, he reluctantly attracts the friendship of local eccentrics Olivia (Clarkson), an artist grieving for her son, and Joe (Cannavale), the reluctant proprietor of a mobile cafe who has a passion for cooking and an insatiable appetite for conversation and life. Joe's persistent gestures of friendship slowly bring the reclusive Fin and Olivia out of their respective shells, until the three develop an inseparable union, eventually discovering that even isolation is better shared. McCarthy portrays the tight bond of this unlikely trio with affectionate humour, exploring the film's deeper themes of loneliness, grief and the fragile nature of friendship with the lightest of touches.

The Station Agent is lovingly crafted, featuring well-rounded characters and a script that crackles with intelligence and humour. Heart-warmingly optimistic, well-observed and bravely made, this gem of a film is a must-see for any discerning film fan. Be one of the first to own or rent it on DVD and video on 13th September 2004 from Buena Vista Home Entertainment Limted.

Synopsis

Finbar McBirde (Peter Dinklage) wants to be left alone, but at four foot five this is an almost impossible task. In response to the attention his condition attracts, Fin has opted for a quiet life surrounded by his one true passion: trains. When he inherits a disused railway depot in New Jersey, he is relieved to finally have the opportunity to live beside a railway in splendid isolation. 

But, much like the station agents that occupied the small town depot before him, Fin finds himself reluctantly enmeshed in the lives of his neighbours. Gradually, he finds himself forming a bond with local artist Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) who is grieving over the death of her son and subsequent break-up of her marriage, and talkative roadside fast food vendor Joe (Bobby Cannavale). The three form an unlikely bond, and eventually discover that loneliness is much more palatable when shared.