- Actors: Alison Elliott, Ellen Burstyn, Marcia Gay Harden, Will Patton, Kieran Mulroney
- Directors: Lee David Zlotoff
- Writers: Lee David Zlotoff
- Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language: English, French
- Subtitles: English, French
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Release Date: Dec 21 1999
- Run Time: 117 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000034DDR
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #18,409 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
This well-acted drama won the Audience award at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, causing a festival ruckus when several distributors entered a bidding war in response to the movie's positive buzz. When the movie was finally released, audience and critical response provided a sudden reality check: the movie's good to a point, but hardly worth the fuss it received at Sundance. Packing a miniseries' worth of melodrama into 117 minutes, the story centers on a young woman named Percy (Alison Elliott) who served prison time for manslaughter and arrives in a small town in Maine with hopes of beginning a new life. She works as a waitress in the Spitfire Grill, owned by Hannah (Ellen Burstyn), whose gruff exterior conceals a kind heart and precious little tolerance for the grill's regular customers, who cast their suspicions on Percy's mysterious past. The plot unfolds when Hannah holds a $100-per-entry essay contest to find a new owner for the grill. There's ample mystery surrounding the collected money, a local hermit who's really Hannah's shell-shocked Vietnam veteran son, and circumstances that lead the locals to adopt a lynch-mob mentality at Percy's expense. By the time Percy is nearly drowning in a raging river, The Spitfire Grill has taken its melodrama a few steps 'round the bend. Fine acting is the movie's saving grace, however, and newcomer Alison Elliott anchors The Spitfire Grill with a subtle, emotionally involving performance. Thanks to Elliott and Burstyn, you don't have to feel too guilty if you find yourself reaching for a Kleenex as the closing credits roll. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The colors of New England never fade.
April 29 2003
Format:DVD
I came upon this film completely by accident years ago. It was being shown on a cable channel and out of sheer boredom, I decided to watch. It is, quite simply, a beautiful story. I couldn't find a fault anywhere. Having grown up in the East Coast, the film depicts New England accurately down to the last fall, colored maple leaf.
We have the small town values and concerns pitted against the dark and mysterious past of a stranger, an outsider. Redemption. Acceptance. Forgiveness. Understanding. The more you need, the harder you'll have to work in order to get it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Beautiful!!
Oct 12 2002
Format:VHS Tape
This is an absolutely beautiful movie that will make you appreciate life and see its magic once again. Along the way it will also make you cry and laugh. The Spitfire Grill is so refreshing...I have never seen another movie like it, with so much spirit. Alison Elliott is wonderful.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
More people should see this redeeming film
Aug 1 2002
Format:DVD
It's too bad so few people know about this film. I'm a sucker for films about redemption for us very imperfect humans. The acting is superb. The story is moving. When I see films like this, I don't feel so alone in the world. There are many films about redemption (see Martin Scorcese), but for me, there will never be enough. This is a real jewel.
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Most recent customer reviews
This Movie Is A Hidden Gem - Superb Storytelling!
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This movie depicts the reality of the how cold, hard and unfair life can be - yet gives us hope as well. Read more
This movie depicts the reality of the how cold, hard and unfair life can be - yet gives us hope as well. Read more
Published on May 25 2005 by Tony
A Wonderful Film of Redemption
I won't get into any plot details, as several previous reviews have already discussed the character and scene development. Read more
Published on Dec 18 2003 by S. A. Schweitzer
It captures the Spirit of a northern New England town!
Having lived both in Maine and in northern New York, I can tell you that the Spitfire Grill captures exquisitely the spirit and essence of a small town in both of these places. Read more
Published on May 5 2003 by Stephen M. Keohane
A POWERFUL DRAMA WITH A STRONG MESSAGE
I came across this movie watching TV really late one night (or early one morning rather) and when I saw the DVD I had to pick it up. Read more
Published on July 23 2002 by Conan The Republican
One of the most amazing films I've ever seen
The Spitfire Grill is a movie that shows the beauty of life and the hope that can be found inside it. This film can make you cry; I've seen this a few times and I still cry. Read more
Published on July 12 2002 by "batman1181"
A Heartbreaking Treasure
This is a moving and rewarding film that places our heart in it's palm and slowly squeezes until we feel it's pain. Read more
Published on July 6 2002
The Sweet Smell of Redemption
Spitfire Grill is a wonderful film about a girl Percy(Allison Elliot) who is recently released from prison and looking to have a fresh start in the small town of Gilead Maine. Read more
Published on Mar 7 2002 by lasher
A "must see" which will touch your heart!
My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in Vermont. One of the best things which happened during this, our annual visit to this special place, was our visit to a... Read more
Published on Aug 1 2001 by Loretta J. Moore
A TOUCHING FILM WITH WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES!!!
This film is quite moving. An emotional tale of a girl with a troubled past who moves to a small town and changes the lives of everyone who meets her. Read more
Published on Jun 3 2001 by John D. Seneca
The Spitfire Grill is a true sleeper-look beyond the surface
It is understandable why the Spitfire Grill received the award it did. It reasonates within the viewer truths about ourselves and our life experiences. Read more
Published on Feb 15 2001 by "sigrid43"
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