The Spitfire Grill
1996 · Movie · PG-13 · 117 min · ★ 6.5 · 43% critics
After leaving prison, a young woman arrives in a quiet New England town hoping for a fresh start and finds work at a local grill. As she settles in, her presence unsettles some residents while drawing others toward compassion, forgiveness, and change in a close-knit community.
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Details
- Years
- 1996
- Release date
- 1996-08-23
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Critic score
- 43/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (67 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a gentle, emotional small-town redemption story with warmth, faith-tinged themes, and a few mysteries, somewhat akin to Elsa & Fred; Not for you if you need fast pacing or a lighter, less tearful watch.
Pros: heartfelt small-town drama; strong performances; reflective, tender tone | Cons: slow build for some; last-act feels forced; can be melodramatic
Themes
- prison
- small town
- church
- christian film
Awards & recognition
- Sundance Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic · 1996
Cast & crew
Alison Elliott
as Percy Talbott
Ellen Burstyn
as Hannah Ferguson
Marcia Gay Harden
as Shelby Goddard
Will Patton
as Nahum Goddard
Kieran Mulroney
as Joe Sperling
Gailard Sartain
as Sheriff Gary Walsh
John M. Jackson
as Johnny B. / Eli
- LC
Louise De Cormier
as Effy Katshaw
- IG
Ida Griesemer
as Rebecca Goddard
- SS
Sam Lloyd Sr.
as Meeshack Boggs
Directed by Lee David Zlotoff