Watch The Dish & the Spoon

The Dish & the Spoon is a 2011 independent movie that explores the aftermath of a failed marriage. The film stars Greta Gerwig as Rose, a woman who has just discovered that her husband has been having an affair. Olly Alexander plays a young man simply known as 'The Boy,' who Rose meets while wandering around a desolate beach town. Eleonore Hendricks plays Louise, a girl who is also on her own in the same town and who ends up becoming a friend to Rose.

The movie opens with Rose driving on the highway, sobbing uncontrollably. She then pulls over to the side and gets out of her car, seeming lost and disoriented. She soon stumbles upon a sad-looking diner where she meets The Boy, a young man who works in the diner. They gradually become friends and spend time together, going to the beach, playing games at the arcade, and dancing to music in an abandoned warehouse.

At the same time, Rose's life is slowly unraveling. She is drinking heavily, sleeping very little, and seems to be in constant emotional turmoil. As much as the connection with The Boy helps her, it is not enough to erase the pain she feels. The relationship between Rose and The Boy is never quite romantic, but it does bring some comfort to them both as they navigate their own struggles.

The Dish & the Spoon is a slow-paced movie that focuses mainly on the characters and their interactions with each other. The storytelling is experiential rather than being heavily expository. The viewers are invited to share the time and the space of the movie's characters rather than being given explicit details about what is happening on the screen. The movie's cinematography emphasizes the desolate, empty atmosphere of a beach town during the off-season, capturing the raw beauty of the landscapes and the characters' constant sense of loneliness.

Greta Gerwig delivers a powerful performance as a broken-hearted woman who is struggling to find herself after the end of her marriage. She portrays Rose's pain and confusion in a nuanced, subtle way, bringing her to life in a way that feels genuine and authentic. Olly Alexander is charming and endearing as The Boy; he brings a sense of innocence to his character that is both refreshing and heartbreaking. Eleonore Hendricks is also excellent in her role as a young, free-spirited woman who becomes an unlikely friend to Rose.

The movie is written and directed by Alison Bagnall, a filmmaker with a talent for exploring complex emotional territories. The Dish & the Spoon is a great example of her skill, as it manages to say a lot about the human experience through its minimalist storytelling and its deep commitment to character exploration. The film captures the specific energy of a particular moment in people's lives where everything feels uncertain and possible at the same time. The story is not about sweeping changes or huge epiphanies. Instead, it is a small, quiet story about two people trying to connect with each other as they both face difficult times in their lives.

Overall, The Dish & the Spoon is a captivating character study that will appeal to anyone who enjoys indie movies that explore emotional intimacy and human connection. The film's strength comes from its ability to create a space where viewers can identify with the characters, feel their pain, and hope for their happiness, all at the same time. It is a movie about the beauty and the tragedy of being alive, and it is well worth a watch for anyone who appreciates honest, well-crafted storytelling with a genuine heart.

The Dish & the Spoon is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 72.