No Trains No Planes

Running time: N/A

Is it possible to find friendship, human contact, and love in a rundown cafe? A group of regulars try to do just that at the Cafe Centraal as life outside seems to be passing them right by. One of Centraal's regulars, Gerard, has run out of money, love, and hope. So he packs his belongings in one suitcase and tells his friends at the Cafe Centraal that he is leaving for Italy for good, proceeding to give away his few precious belongings as gifts. Getting little response to his announcement, he tells Joop, the skeptical bar owner, that his brother is the famous singer, Mario Russo, and that he is coming to the cafe that day. A train of events follows which affects all of the cafe regulars in an unforgettable way, as each person tries to prepare for the appearance of the famous singer. Seasoned director Jos Stelling's No Trains No Planes cuts through the everyday banalities of life to the heart of the human condition with humor and compassion, above all, compassion. Nominated for Best Actor and Best Screenplay - 1999 Netherlands Film Festival. --Ed Soohoo