This has to be one of the finest films I've seen. Ever. Thanks to BBC 2 for showing it!

A quick precis of the story
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Soon after we meet him, the main character, Finbar inherits a property in a small rural town - it's an old station house right next to the railway tracks. As a complete train-buff, Fin moves to his new place to wallow in the quiet life with just the trains and himself for company ... until he encounters some of the town's interesting inhabitants. A loner, Fin attempts to distance himself from his new-found acquaintances but before long the barriers start to drop.

The tagline of the film 'Loneliness is much better when you have got someone to share it with' gives a pretty good idea of the nature of the film - a range of personal journeys that are an absolute joy to watch.

The main characters
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Finbar McBride
Born with dwarfism, Fin has lived a lonely life and moves to rural New Jersey to escape from the finger-pointing chuckleheads in the city. His solitude seems at first forced upon him, but perhaps some of it is of his own doing?

Joe Oramas
The most friendly character I've encountered in a film, Joe is working in the family hot dog van while his dad is sick. Ever-cheerful and helpful, he's the perfect foil to Fin's aloofness.

Olivia Harris
An eccentric, clumsy artist, living just outside town in a big house bought by her and her ex-husband. Olivia is a sweet and quiet woman who struggles through each day after suffering a personal loss.

Other characters
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Cleo
A local schoolgirl, Cleo mistakes Fin for another child ... then shyly tries to befriend him.

Emily
A young woman who works at the quiet public library.

The actors
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Finbar - Peter Dinklage
Recently appearing in Nip-Tuck, Peter Dinklage seems to have a pretty full-on schedule of work. And not surprisingly - his portrayal of Fin, a sad but good-at-heart guy, is superb.

Joe - Bobby Cannavale
Can also be found in some later episodes of Will & Grace and much-hyped flop Snakes on a Plane. I've not seen this guy in anything before but he plays Joe brilliantly - a lovable, straightforward and warm guy, he is a great contrast to Fin.

Olivia - Patricia Clarkson
I'm not sure I can say anything much about Patricia Clarkson other than that she is pretty much perfect. She really is flawless in everything I've seen her in - but her 'Olivia' is one of her finest moments. Beautifully played, she exudes sadness but in such a way as to never be overbearing. A class act.

Cleo - Raven Goodwin
Only thirteen at the time, her acting skills are great - I think her age and inherent lack of experience probably helped this character come across as a genuinely curious, innocent and big-hearted child.

Emily - Michelle Williams
Possibly best known for her roles as Jen in Dawson's Creek and 'the wife' in Brokeback Mountain, Michelle Williams really surprised me in this film. Although more of a secondary character, she really made an impression and kept the performance subtle and believeable.

In general
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The Station Agent is filmed beautifully. It has perfected the cinematique technique of using single, static cameras focused on several specific locations, but showing the scenes at different times - this helps you to envisage the town and makes it seem familiar and 'normal'. There are some fantastic night shots when Fin is in his station house - the gowing streams of light that shine through the windows and cracks when trains pass by looks stunning - luminous even!

The soundtrack is great too - fairly soft, bluesy kind of country stuff, it adds another element to the mood and atmosphere but never overpowers or stands out too much. Looks like the soundtrack is available on Amazon ...

Another first-rate thing about this film is the dialogue. It is written and delivered expertly - there is no point where it sounds staged or forced or hammy. Just amazing.

Some facts
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Released in the UK in 2004.

Filmed in 2003, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Rated 15 (UK)

Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy, who wrote the three main characters specifically for the actors who played them.

The writer/director has more recently stepped in front of the camera for roles in films such as Flags of Our Fathers and Syriana.

He also won a BAFTA in 2004 for Best Original Screenplay for The Station Agent (along with a tonne of other awards and nominations).

(This additional info is from www.imdb.com)

Summary
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I admit it - I'm a bit of a picky film-snob when it comes to finding films I really like (City of God, Secretary and Delicatessen are some favourites) - but I absolutely loved and highly recommend this one.

So, if you like low-action, subtle, moving stories this could be your new favourite film. It's certainly mine.