The Girl in the Cafe

David Yates' 2005 romantic drama "The Girl in the Cafe" promises a breathtaking, wonderful glimpse into the games of love and politics and the sometimes necessary intermingling of both. At the film's conclusion, the spectator must pick his or her jaw up off the floor as surprise after surprise reveals itself throughout the plot. Many films' titles present a basic idea of their premises, but "The Girl in the Cafe" does that and more as it also conveys a humanitarian message in the plot. The beginning of "The Girl in the Cafe" oozes a dismal tone and a gloomy mood as Lawrence, the male protagonist, walks in the rain, in a crowd full of people physically, but lonely in other aspects. The low speed of the camera as it follows him and the Enya-esque music reflect this mood and tone as well. The tone and mood change from dismal and gloomy to awkward and comical as he enters the cafe. With nowhere else to sit, he asks a young woman, whose name we learn is Gina, if he may sit with her. She grants him permission and he sits down. The conversation is uncomfortable as they drone on and on about random subjects, though he does interject that he works at a civil servant for the G8. His constant stuttering and shyness around Gina renders this scene awkward and comical and exudes laughter from its spectators. The awkwardness and comicality continues as a frame captures them dining together in an Italian restaurant. Later when Lawrence calls to ask Gina for what the spectator assumes is another date, the director plays on common cliches: "Boy calls girl and asks girl for a second date." Lawrence then surprises the spectator when he actually asks Gina if he would like to come with him to the annual G8 summit to take place in Reykjavik. She gladly and warmly accepts. Expectedly, over two cups of coffee, Lawrence explains what the G8 summit does, explaining that the issue on the line, extreme poverty in Africa, needlessly killing 30,000 children every day, one child every three seconds. Hearing this pours a passionate, heated opinion from Gina about the G8 and she makes this opinion known at the elegant dinner held one night. The mood of this scene turns tense just before she speaks because she could embarrass Lawrence and cause him to lose his job. From a first-person account, Gina also draws out emotion from the spectator because he or she will yell at the screen, begging her to not say anything. Yet, she does and the spectator is left stunned because Lawrence's job is now in jeopardy. A walk on the pier after the summit reveals why Gina was so outspoken about the meeting because she reveals that she had been in prison for hurting a man who had hurt a child. This scene bears a somber tone and a shocking mood at these words. The film's conclusion exudes a satisfying, touching mood as the camera zooms in on Lawrence and Gina's clasped hands. "The Girl in the Cafe" surprises because it is not merely a love story of two charming, young people who haphazardly meet in a charming little street cafe; it sends the message that some paths just need to cross and, in the words of Gina "By compromising, we are compromised". Had Gina and Lawrence not met, Gina would not have been present to share her strong convictions and opinions with the summit and they would not have reached the global solution that they did. I agree with Brian Lowry of Rotten Tomatoes when he proclaims "The Girl in The Cafe" to be a "confection sweetened with rare grace and gentle nobility". Lawrence and Gina's love story contributes rare grace and the topic of poverty and Gina's persistence with her feelings about poverty and children contribute the gentle nobility that, indeed sweeten this film and make it the confectioner's delight it is.