The Girl in the Café

WOW! I just watched an absolutely brilliant film on HBO tonight. "The Girl in the Cafe" stars Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald in what I am sure will be one of the very best films of the year.

The film will, with 100% certainty, appeal to those who loved "Lost in Translation" and it will probably resonate with many of those who didn't like the characters in that film as much as the rest of us.

The two characters in this film are adorable, seemingly mismatched and yet a perfect relationship forms. Nighy & Macdonald deliver Oscar worthy performances... it is shame that this TV movie won't qualify!!! The film is also rife with political intelligence at it is set against the backdrop of a summit being held in Reykjavik, Iceland.

This is a spectacular screenplay, delicately balanced and bittersweet, insightful and poignant.

THE GIRL IN THE CAFE is superb in every way.

Look for it on HBO right now!!! I believe it plays twice on the 28th and will assuredly be repeated many times this month!!!

This is an extremely well crafted film by David Yates.

It is very rare that I get all passionate about a film. But this is one such film that virtually demands that!!

Yes, like the previous critic said, it is quirky and it can be looked upon as a comedy.. but the best thing about it is if you look at this film as a separate entity. It is about two characters, the civil-servant and the nobody girl (.. in the café...), who meet by chance. Both from such completely different worlds! One speaks with that the propah British accent and she speaks with the crude Scottish brogue. However, its that Scottish brogue that enraptures you from the start! I mean, Kelly MacDonald put in such a fine performance of her character, I admit, I was taken aback, i wanted to personally hand her the golden man!! The beauty of this film is the subtlety with which director David Yates weaves together the sweetness of romance with the ugliness of world poverty, and the rich world politics etc.. It is an absolute treat of a film. I am surprised this wasn't released in the theaters. Isn't that some kinda of irony in itself!! You must watch this film!!! YOU MUST!!

Lawrence, an aide to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, appears to be a confirmed bachelor. This is a man that lives for his job that evidently keeps him away from the realities of life. Lawrence gets more than what he bargains for when he enters the cafe, at the beginning of the film, and asks Gina, who is minding her business, whether he can share her table to drink his tea.

Thus begins this romantic comedy with political overtones directed with great flair by David Yates and based on a screen play by Richard Curtis, a writer who knows a thing, or two, about human relations, as demonstrated by his previous work.

Lawrence and Gina, for all appearances are a mismatched pair. He comes from a different world, but has no social graces. She, on the other hand, seems to know a lot more about life than he does. It's easy to see why Lawrence falls head over heels in love with this shy and decent girl who surprises him, and the diplomatic team attending the G8 conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. Lawrence, on an impulse, decides to invite her to come along.

The only thing that Mr. Yates and Mr. Curtis haven't prepared us is for the way Gina, a shy and quiet woman, will raise to the occasion to tell her views to people that couldn't care less, much less would have asked her for her opinion of what's being negotiated in the summit.

Bill Nighy gives a splendid performance as the repressed and reserved Lawrence, a man who can't see beyond of the international diplomacy that consumes his life. Kelly MacDonald makes a wonderful and sweet Gina, a poor girl who has a lot to give. Both actors are wonderful playing together. They made us believe in their love and we are happy they found one another.

Highly recommended for viewers that appreciate a subtle comedy with its heart in the right place.

Written to coincide with the Africa Lives series on the BBC and also the current Make Poverty History campaign, 'The Girl in the Cafe' is a superlative TV drama that makes its political points without resorting to grandstanding or heavy-handedness.

Played to absolute perfection by Bill Nighy and especially Kelly MacDonald, and written by Richard Curtis with his usual wry wit, this drama places a socially aware Everywoman in the same room as the world's most powerful politicians at a fictional G8 Summit in Reykjavik.

The blossoming romance of the two leads and the politics of the summit develop in perfect tandem, neither allowed to undermine the other. It is to Curtis's credit that he does not seek to provide an easy way out for any of the characters, nor does he wrap everything up in a neat bow at the climax.

This is one of the most accomplished TV dramas I have ever seen, and I can only hope that it achieves the profile elsewhere that its creative team and, more importantly, its message deserves.

This movie premiered on dutch television tonight (I think it also premiered on the BBC and HBO, nicely in time for the next G8 meeting). Without giving anything away with regard to the plot, this is a very nice movie that combines a personal love story with ideals and politics. Bill Nighy is absolutely fabulous in the lead, and it is his performance that carries this film, although it has to be said that Kelly Macdonald also more than holds her own.

Even though the material is pretty contemporary, and one'd be tempted to think it might not age well because of that, I think the story is universal enough to stand up to the test of time. Recommended for anyone that likes their movies slow, touching and real.