The Station Agent (2003)

 

If you haven’t already seen this film please do so before reading further.

In 2003 a buddy of mine was working at a local rental store. I of course took advantage of this opportunity and one of the films I decided to pick with me was The Station Agent. Little did I know this would be the start of a beautiful friendship.

The story seems simple enough. Finbar McBride works in a store selling train models with his friend Henry. Fin is a dwarf and as we quickly learn, that does not go unnoticed. After Henry dies Fin inherits an old train station our in Newfoundland, New Jersey. Eager to be left alone he moves out there. Life has a few other plans for him though.

The Norwegian tagline reads: “Loneliness is much better when you have got someone to share it with.” I wholeheartedly agree. Is there in the end anyone who really just wants to be left alone? Fin says so at one point, but we know he doesn’t mean it. Loneliness is the common denominator in The Station Agent. There are different reasons for their loneliness, but our three main characters all realize that being together makes them stronger. Fin feels lonely based on how people react to his physical being. As he puts it himself: “It's funny how people see me and treat me, since I'm really just a simple, boring person.” He is right. But he isn’t entirely comfortable about who he is, or rather uncomfortable with how people perceive him. Fin is being put to the test several times in the movie. One particularly poignant one is young Cleo, who wants him to hold a lecture on trains for her class. Fin knows that children usually don’t sugarcoat their thoughts and opinions and is afraid of this if he shows up. Does he eventually rise to the occasion? That would be a big loud YES! It’s a great scene. The first scene we actually see Fin truly comfortable with his new friends is down by the water with Olivia, while Joe is up at her house cooking dinner. She asks him why he moved to Newfoundland. Fin leans forward and jokingly says: “I wanted to live near Joe!” They both laugh. He has finally let down his guard and can be himself. You’re happy for him.

Olivia’s loneliness stems from the loss of her son. Every nuance of her performance is praise worthy. “He fell off the monkey bars”, she tells Fin. You take an extra deep breath and sigh. Just like that. One minute he’s alive and then blackness. We see this enormous amount of pain conveyed through Olivia and you heart goes out to her. Like everyone she has better days and worse days. In those darkest moments of loneliness you need someone to hold your hand, look you in the eyes and say everything is going to be alright. I know I want that. True friends come through here. A great scene showing Olivia’s feelings is when one of her city friends stops by. Olivia sees her coming and immediately runs out explaining she’s in a hurry. Her city friend still manages to sneak in: “How are you?” Olivia smiles bravely and responds “I’m… I’m good.” There is so much strength in that smile I’m not quite sure how she manages to focus mentally and physically to it. Behind the façade of a smile lies a mourning woman. I feel like giving her a hug. Let all those bottled up emotions flow freely. It’s okay. But her friend doesn’t know the right way to reach her.

Joe’s loneliness is a different one. Apart from a father who’s sick (though we never know how ill) and a boring job he is a very outgoing guy. “He does enjoy life”, as Olivia puts it. She is right. Joe is just an all around pleasant guy to be with. Still, you notice he longs for someone to be with. I find one dialogue exchange between him and Fin just after Olivia has left particularly describing:

Joe: Hey listen, if you guys do something later, can I join you?

Fin: We're not gonna do something.

Joe: No, I know, but if you do, can I join you?

Fin: We're not gonna do something later.

Joe: Okay, but, if you do?

Fin: Okay.

Joe: Cool.

It’s an incredibly funny scene, with an increasingly annoyed Fin. Most people would have settled for Fin’s initial response, but Joe keeps on pushing. He’s not trying to be a jerk, but seems unable to take the hint. Fin understands this and so to end it he accepts Joe’s wish. And later on they do actually do something together. Joe’s wish becomes reality. I’m absolutely fascinated with this character. Granted his life doesn’t appear very exciting, but his wish for meaningful relationships with others is candid and beautiful. So while there is no great tragedy in his life, or other things to stigmatize him he still feels like an outsider. I can relate, but I still wonder why. Joe’s character very much personifies a childlike curiosity. At one point he asks Fin an uncomfortable question. You understand his curiosity. It’s not meant as something crude, but comes from a sincere place. Fin clearly finds it unpleasant and you understand this perfectly as well.

Three lonely souls have found each other. 

Apart from Fin, Olivia and Joe there are other minor characters that will win you over too. The librarian Emily (Michelle Williams) acts so naturally I cannot help but feel a little crush. Lynn Cohen playing Patty is quite funny, while being equally part insensitive. She always leaves me slightly shocked. Some people! Then there is Raven Goodwin as Cleo. While young she proves just how much wisdom kids have if we only listen.

I have to praise director Thomas McCarthy. His script is original and compelling. The characters he’s written are real human beings with all that entails. You are reminded just how satisfying a good character driven film can be. It avoids banalities and cheap sentimentality and allows you to genuinely care about what happens to them. While he does this The Station Agent is filled with warm humor as well. It works great in balancing out the more serious undertones in the film. McCarthy’s attention to details is staggering and always leaves me with new impressions when watching it. It’s obvious that he gets along with his cast. I recommend listening to the audio commentary with McCarthy and his three stars. They talk and joke lovingly about each other and the movie. You feel those good vibrations they had making it coming off the screen. It’s a rare heartfelt effort.

Apart from perhaps a wish of living in this reality a little longer, I have absolutely no complaints. The directing, writing and acting is ace. Stephen Trask’s score is charming and gently balances the careful tones with the more energy filled tracks. They all have a discreet optimism running through them. Editing is done in a fashion that suits the film and the mental state of our characters perfectly; unhurried and careful.

The Station Agent is an epic film in small scale. Some may find it trivial, which is a shame because there is such greatness in every frame. A lot of its power lies in the moments of silence. They speak volumes about our characters and will frequently have you smiling. The end is perfect. Life goes on, yet we leave with a feeling that things will be alright.

I find The Station Agent to be a profoundly human experience. Like great art can, it conveys ideas about the human condition in a way that resonate. If you’ve ever felt lonely chances are you can resonate with The Station Agent. For me it remains the single most uplifting film ever made. Merely thinking about it is enough to produce a smile on my face. I hope by this review that I somehow manage to do some slight justice to the film and that you remember to let your friends know how much you appreciate them.

10/10