the audience applauded

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Blistering performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Twee. Too self-conscious for its own good. Couldn't finish.

One of the best films I have ever seen! A beautiful, sensitive and acutely observant expose of English attitudes and protocols. . It's actually secondary that the background subject matter of the plot is so vitally important in our modern world. . The interplay of nuance between the lead characters is a charmingly captivating carousel of attraction and inspiration. .Yes, I give it 10. 10 because it was a totally intelligent and enjoyable surprise.Well acted and beautifully produced. Enchantingly written by Richard Curtis like all good magic it will envelop you in it's reality.

I really appreciated this movie! It began as subtle as a gentle rain, and then continued with a multi-layered crescendo up to the final moments. Definitely a focused, nuanced film - not for the action lover or for the epic drama seeker. I delighted in Bill and Kelly's interactions, the slow and steady friendship, and the unexpected place that they find within each other and within a hungry world.I rented this last year (did not see it on HBO) and I would have to say it was my favorite "surprise" film of the year. Moved me to the point that I would be thinking about it as I was driving down the highway.For people willing to suspend doubts about certain likelihoods and percent chances that these things would happen - and who themselves have seen people shine in new situations - enjoy the ride.

This surprising made-for-TV dramedy, written by Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral") and directed by David Yates ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"), shows that the simplest ideas sometimes give us the best movies. Lawrence (Bill Nighy) is a lonely civil servant that invites a young woman he met in a café, Gina (Kelly Macdonald), to join him at the G8 Summit in Iceland. What he didn't expect is that the introspective Gina would speak up to his superiors about what she thinks they should decide/worry about.I've been a fan of Bill Nighy for a while now; he can be funny ("Love Actually"), hateful ("The Constant Gardener") and moving ("Notes on a Scandal"), but it was this movie that made me say to myself: what a tremendous actor. His subtle, multi-layered performance is the soul of the movie. Kelly Macdonald, that great character actress from "Trainspotting", "Gosford Park" and "No Country for Old Men", among others, also makes Gina a believable and adorable character (I disagree with what she says about Björk being the "coolest woman on the planet", but I agree with most of her ideas). "The Girl in the Café" won the Emmy for Outstanding Made-for-TV Movie, and both Nighy and Macdonald were nominated for Golden Globes for their performances.Don't avoid this thinking it's a TV-movie-of-the-week sort, because it's better than most flicks that hit the multiplexes. Otherwise, you'll miss a real gem. 8.5/10.