Cafe (2010 film)
Encyclopedia
Café is a 2010 independent
drama film
directed by Marc Erlbaum. It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt
, Alexa Vega
and Jamie Kennedy
, who was Hewitt's boyfriend at the time of filming.
and manipulating minor details of the world. In dialogues between programmer and avatar an exchange on the nature and purpose of the simulation takes place that examines common philosophical questions on the nature of god and creation. At the end of the film, possibly hinting at the nature of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the avatar has to make a tough choice when a tragedy happens.
in October, 2010.
In February, 2011, Maya Releasing acquired the film rights for the US theatrical and home video release and foreign sales of Café.
Café opened on August 19, 2011 in Los Angeles
, California
.
, with producer Chris Wyatt
attending to accept the trophy.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Marc Erlbaum. It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
, Alexa Vega
Alexa Vega
Alexa Ellesse Vega is an American actress, singer and pianist. She is best known for playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series and Shilo Wallace in the movie Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The...
and Jamie Kennedy
Jamie Kennedy
James Harvey "Jamie" Kennedy is an American comedian, rapper, and actor.-Early life:Kennedy, the youngest of six children, was born in Upper Darby Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family is of Irish descent and he was raised Roman Catholic. He attended and graduated from...
, who was Hewitt's boyfriend at the time of filming.
Plot
The movie almost exclusively takes place inside a corner café, where people go to and share their lives. It soon becomes obvious that café is a "programmed reality" as the programmer makes contact with one of the inhabitants telling him that he is an avatarAvatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
and manipulating minor details of the world. In dialogues between programmer and avatar an exchange on the nature and purpose of the simulation takes place that examines common philosophical questions on the nature of god and creation. At the end of the film, possibly hinting at the nature of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the avatar has to make a tough choice when a tragedy happens.
Cast
- Jennifer Love HewittJennifer Love HewittJennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
as Claire - Alexa VegaAlexa VegaAlexa Ellesse Vega is an American actress, singer and pianist. She is best known for playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series and Shilo Wallace in the movie Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The...
as Sally - Jamie KennedyJamie KennedyJames Harvey "Jamie" Kennedy is an American comedian, rapper, and actor.-Early life:Kennedy, the youngest of six children, was born in Upper Darby Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family is of Irish descent and he was raised Roman Catholic. He attended and graduated from...
as Glenn - Michaela McManusMichaela McManusMichaela McManus is an American actress, best known for her portrayals of Lindsey Strauss on the television series One Tree Hill and A.D.A...
as the Movie Woman - Madeline CarrollMadeline CarrollMadeline Carroll is an American actress who was first noticed for her role as Molly Johnson in 2008's Swing Vote. Carroll had many supporting roles in various films Comedy and Drama...
as Elly - Daniel Eric GoldDaniel Eric GoldDaniel Eric Gold is an American theater, TV and movie actor. He attended Lee Strasberg's Theater Institute as a teenager, and went on to graduate from Penn State in 1996, with a degree in Theater Arts....
as Todd - Cecelia Ann Birt as Earth Mother
- Katie Lowes as Kelly
- Hubbel PalmerHubbel PalmerHubbel Palmer is an American actor and screen writer best known for his roles as Carl in the film Moving McAllister and as Tracy Orbison in the independent film American Fork which he wrote.-Filmography:...
as Avatar - Richard ShortRichard Short (actor)Richard Ian Porterfield Short is an English actor currently working in Los Angeles. Most recently appeared in the FX Network show "American Horror Story" directed by 'Miguel Arteta' as well as the feature film "The Exhibitionists" for director Michael Melamedoff, playing 'Walter Todd', to be...
as the Writer - Khan Baykal as Colin
- Derek CecilDerek CecilDerek Cecil is an American actor who was the star of the now defunct TV series Push, Nevada. Cecil was born in Amarillo, Texas and graduated from the University of Houston...
as the Movie Man - Vaughn Goland as the Tattooed Goth Dude
- Gavin Bellour as Dave
- Clayton Prince as the Cop
- Adam ShapiroAdam ShapiroAdam Shapiro is an American co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement , a pro-Palestinian organization, the stated mission of which is to bring civilians from around the world to resist nonviolently the Israeli occupation of West Bank and previously the Gaza Strip...
as Smitty - Michael Satin as the Incredibly Tattooed Man
- Daniel McCaughan, J.D. as the Dancing & Computer Patron
Release
The film premiered at the 19th Philadelphia Film FestivalPhiladelphia Film Festival
The Philadelphia Film Festival is held annually in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Until 2009 it was generally held during the first weeks of April....
in October, 2010.
In February, 2011, Maya Releasing acquired the film rights for the US theatrical and home video release and foreign sales of Café.
Café opened on August 19, 2011 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Reception
The Los Angeles Times gave the film a mixed review, commending the acting from the leads but stating that the "story lines don't all effectively intertwine beyond their shared location."Awards
The film won the "Crystal Heart Award" at the 2010 Heartland Film FestivalHeartland Film Festival
The Heartland Film Festival is a film festival held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana. First held in 1992, its goal is to "recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."In May 2007, Heartland...
, with producer Chris Wyatt
Chris Wyatt (producer)
Christopher Aaron Wyatt, sometimes credited as Chris "Doc" Wyatt, is an American film producer, writer, and second unit director. He produced the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite, the 2006 film Think Tank, the 2007 film Beneath, the 2007 film Coyote, and the 2009 film Broken Hill featuring...
attending to accept the trophy.