The Station Agent

Synopsis: Fin McBride (Peter Dinklage)is a handsome but stand-offish "little person" (i.e., a dwarf) who works in a model train shop and just wants to be left alone. When his boss dies and leaves him a real train depot out in Newfoundland, New Jersey, he heads off there hoping to lead a life of splendid isolation. But when recently bereaved artist Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) and garrulous Cuban hot dog stall owner Joe (Bobby Cannavale) invade his life, his hopes of being left in peace fall into disarray.

This is the feature debut for writer-director Tom McCarthy, and he has purpose-written the three main leads for people he knew. Dinklage could certainly relate his own life experience to that of Fin – being ignored, derided, and full of anger. The gradual transformation of his character is a delight to behold. There is a deep strength and dignity in Fin, offset by some very amusing moments, especially when Olivia and he first meet. Clarkson brings her irresistible blend of sexiness and vulnerability to the screen, while Bobby Cannavale lets us see beyond Joe’s brash, verbose exterior to a guy also craving acceptance and friendship. Smaller roles starring Raven Goodwin as Cleo, another outsider who befriends Fin, and Michelle Williams as Emily, a young spunky librarian, are also strong.

Station agents were traditionally people playing a central role in isolated communities, and so the visual isolation of the run-down depot evokes a sense not only of the characters’ isolation but also of American history. The film progresses from a view of train aficionados as being eccentric loners, through to a sense of their passion being a uniting force for friendship, as Fin, Olivia and Joe wait for passing trains and indulge in a spot of walking along the tracks.

The film moves with a beautiful leisurely pace and has moments of near-farcical humour interlaced with deep poignancy. The universal theme of the need for acceptance and friendship reaches out to us all, but in way that is never cloying. With its quirky humour and gentle tale of friendship The Station Agent is a little gem of a film that makes one feel good to be alive.

 

 

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