best movie i've ever seen.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

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

Percy (Alison Elliott), upon being released from prison, goes to the small town of Gillead, to find a place where she can start over again. She is taken in by Hannah (Ellen Burstyn), to help out at her place, the Spitfire Grill. Percy brings change to the small town, stirring resentment and fear in some, and growth in others.Roger Ebert wrote, "Watching this plot unfold, I was remembering last week's 'Heavy,' which also premiered at Sundance; its cafe was run by an older woman (Shelley Winters), and had a veteran waitress (Deborah Harry) and a young waitress (Liv Tyler), and had a regular customer whose name was Leo, not Joe, although he was played by Joe Grifasi. Also echoing in the caverns of my memory were several other movies about stalwart women running cafes and striding above the local gossip: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, Fried Green Tomatoes, Staying Together and of course Bagdad Cafe." Indeed, something about this film felt derivative or cheap, like it belonged on the Lifetime network and not as a film championed by the fine folks at Sundance. Some say this is a forgotten sleeper hit, and I disagree. Others say the score was overlooked, and that I will agree with. James Horner is one of the bigger names out there, and this effort is no exception.

The divine goodness and love in all of us is masterfully shown by the fabulous actress Alison Elliott whose portrayal of the deep genius of love in the powerful soul of a young innocently convicted girl shows us all how glorious each of us can be and how we can cause horrible results come from our laziness, ignorance or indifference. Next to the story of Jesus' life, this story of the strength that comes from her soul demands that we all pause to consider what we are actually doing with our lives. This is a story of mysteries, people, roles in life, good and bad efforts and what affect each of us can have on all of us. For me, this is the most powerful story from the 20th century and Alison Elliott almost got a leading actress Academy Award nomination which she most certainly deserved. WATCH THIS GREAT MOVIE, originally titled "In Care of The Spitfire Grill" ! IT WILL ENRICH AND ENNOBLE YOUR LIFE. This story is about personal transfiguration in the Holiest way possible.

This is a very touching but bittersweet independent film. Slow and gentle. It concerns a young woman named Percy who wishes to reconcile her unsavory past in the small town of Giliad Maine but she is haunted by the very past that she wishes to overcome. Many people would like a chance to start over but life does not always afford then that opportunity. Nonetheless, we all still do affect others in ways that are not always seen. And therein lies the tale of redemption. A redemption that is sometimes too late in coming. Yet there is still hope in the unfairness all around us. And compassion to be found. Don't expect a Hollywood ending here. But who really wants one in this context? It's been said that Hollyweood films depict life as we would like to see it. But independent films depict life as it is. Small towns are hesitant enough about welcoming newcomers, yet Percy's arrival and her spirit is sensed as being something altogether different and the town finds itself changed forever. The inviting musical score by James Horner renders a sweet ambiance, consoling with a subdued drifty quality that lulls the soul in its wake.

A young woman, Percy (Elliott), is released from prison and goes to a small town in Maine to start over. She gets a job at the Spitfire Grill run by Hannah (Burstyn). Starting over in a small New England town with its clannish ways and suspicions of strangers is not easy and Percy has a hard row to hoe.A friend of mine said they don't make movies like this anymore and he is right. The owner of the Prime Time Video store says this movie is always going out the door and did surmise that it might be a cult movie. He has not seen it yet. Well, it's not a cult movie. It's simply a very good story.It's a wonderful true to life story about three women (Gay Harden being the other one) who carry their baggage with them and try to get by. Percy is haunted by her past; Hannah is guilt-ridden regarding her family; and Shelby (Gay Harden) is tormented by her husband. All three need each other to understand each is not alone.I went back to 1996 and 1997 to see if this movie or stars had been nominated for anything in the Academy Awards. Nothing was found, but there should have been something or someone nominated. I would have guessed that Marcia Gay Harden would have been nominated for a best supporting actress award. She would have had my vote.Although made in 1996, I suppose this is the type of movie that goes out the door a lot because of word of mouth. If you see this movie, pass it on. It is a very good story.BTW: the friend who recommended this to me owes me a box of Kleenix. Yeah, you're gonna need it.