The Girl in the Café main backdrop
The Girl in the Café main poster

The Girl in the Café

Visit website

7.1/10 • 85

2005-06-251h 34m

ComedyDramaRomance

Lawrence, an aging, lonely civil servant falls for Gina, an enigmatic young woman. When he takes her to the G8 Summit in Reykjavik, however, their bond is tested by Lawrence's professional obligations.

Directors
David Yates
Editors
Mark Day

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Bill Nighy

    Bill Nighy

    Lawrence

  2. Kelly Macdonald

    Kelly Macdonald

    Gina

  3. Meneka Das

    Meneka Das

    Sunita

  4. Anton Lesser

    Anton Lesser

    George

  5. Paul Ritter

    Paul Ritter

    Robert

  6. Ken Stott

    Ken Stott

    Chancellor

  7. Penny Downie

    Penny Downie

    Ruth

  8. Damon Younger

    Damon Younger

    Hotel Receptionist

  9. Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir

    Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir

    Assistant Receptionist

Reviews1

View Reviews
Peter McGinn Avatar

Peter McGinn

Aug 6, 2020

9/10

I have seen this film twice, about ten years apart. It is the sort of quiet film that is wonderful when it is done right, though sometimes you need to be in the mood for them. Bill Nighy as Lawrence gives a strong, understated performance here. The movie description states that his character is lonely and I suppose that is true. But he is lonely in the way that William Hurt is lonely in the classic The Accidental Tourist. Contemplative, leading a quiet existence, but not pathetic or requiring pity. But I also have this image of a man who once might have been excited about his job, his role in bringing about social change for the better, but as a career government employee, now knows that the game is lowered expectations, endless negotiations and much less than perfect results. And just as Geena Davis’s character lights a fire under William Hurt’s finely crafted life in the earlier film, a character with a similar name, Gina, does the same for our Lawrence. She possesses a spark, a fierce idealism That has long since slipped away from Lawrence. She challenges the notion that social justice is something that can be negotiated by politicians, and her energy enlivens Lawrence. The question is, will her enthusiasm and stubborn activist attitude threaten the career that has all but defined Lawrence’s life for many years?

Media

  • The Girl in the Café poster
  • The Girl in the Café poster

Recommendations

  • Man on Wire main backdrop

    Man on Wire

    7.4

  • Lost in America main backdrop

    Lost in America

    6.9

  • Gideon's Daughter main backdrop

    Gideon's Daughter

    6.2

  • My Name Is Sara main backdrop

    My Name Is Sara

    7.0

  • Chronic main backdrop

    Chronic

    5.8

  • No Backdrop

    Owned & Operated

    8.8

  • Something's Gotta Give main backdrop

    Something's Gotta Give

    6.6

  • Gnomeo & Juliet main backdrop

    Gnomeo & Juliet

    5.9

  • Wild Tales main backdrop

    Wild Tales

    7.9

  • Jumper main backdrop

    Jumper

    6.2

  • Parasite main backdrop

    Parasite

    8.5

  • The Dark Knight main backdrop

    The Dark Knight

    8.5

  • The Shawshank Redemption main backdrop

    The Shawshank Redemption

    8.7

  • Spider-Man 3 main backdrop

    Spider-Man 3

    6.4

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring main backdrop

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    8.4

  • Amélie main backdrop

    Amélie

    7.9

  • Green Book main backdrop

    Green Book

    8.2

  • Call Me by Your Name main backdrop

    Call Me by Your Name

    8.1

  • Pulp Fiction main backdrop

    Pulp Fiction

    8.5

  • A Star Is Born main backdrop

    A Star Is Born

    7.5

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
reykjavík, iceland