One of the reviews below states "I notice most of the negative reviews have been posted by men who obviously have no sensitivity." Well, as a 51 yr old man, I can tell you that I really loved this film and it did touch my heart and spirit. One of the best films that I have seen!

The three lead actresses were superb, especially Alison Elliott as Percy. It was all so 'real', and portrays small town life in an authentic, respectful manner. Everything was refreshing, including the deeper messages about life's struggles regarding relationships and inner psychological problems.

"Why aren't more films this good?" Indeed !!

For me, this film is better than "Fried Green Tomatoes" since it is not so blatantly anti-male (think about this!).

Newly released prisoner Percy (Alison Elliott) comes to the small town of Gillead, Maine. She was imprisoned 5 years for manslaughter. Sheriff Walsh directs her to the Spitfire Grill. Elderly owner Hannah Ferguson (Ellen Burstyn) recently lost her waitress. She's given a job and a place to live. Hannah's nephew Nahum Goddard (Will Patton) is suspicious. Joe Sperling takes a liking to the newcomer. After Hannah suffers a bad fall, Percy and Nahum's kind-hearted wife Shelby (Marcia Gay Harden) start running the grill. There's a mysterious local hermit and a tree scientist. Percy organizes an essay contest with an entry fee to sell the grill with the help of her former prison mates. Hannah gets tired of the townfolks' sarcasm and gives them the essays to read.

The drama and the characters are done with a very light touch. I like the characters but it's too easy going. There is no tension until the last act. Alison Elliott is pretty and does a good job. I think Joe needs to be a bigger character played by a more charismatic actor. It gets a bit hokey. The townfolks are too monotone. It tries too hard to be fanciful or fails to be fanciful enough. It also needs to advance Percy's character more in the first half. Nahum and Shelby have a better character arc. This is an interesting story about tolerance and salvation but it's done without any tension rising to a super high soaring melodramatic ending. The tearjerker ending feels too manipulative.

Percy Talbott (Alison Elliot) is a young woman, who has just left jail, and goes to Gillead, a small town in Maine looking for a new beginning of her life. She gets a job in a diner place called Spitfire Grill, owned by Hannah Ferguson Ellen Burstyn). Hannah lost her beloved son Elli in Vietnam, and is a very aggressive woman. Her nephew Nahum Goddard (Will Patton) is the local real-estate broker and has been trying to sell the place for ten years. He mistreat his wife Shelby Goddard (Marcia Gay Harden),questioning her intelligence most of the time. When Percy arrives in town, she changes the behavior not only of Hannah and Shelby, but of the local citizen, and deep secrets are disclosed. I bought the VHS "Spitgrill Fire" in 1998 and only today I have watched it. It is a sensitive story, filmed in beautiful locations in Maine and very supported by the performance by the outstanding central trio of actresses. The story is delightful most of the time and although having a good message in the end, I did not like the fate of Percy. I know life may be unfair, there are many envious and prejudicial people, but the story is fiction so I believe the writer used a very "heavy hand" to conclude the destiny of Percy. I would prefer a most commercial end for her character. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Spitfire Grill – O Recomeço" ("Spittfire Grill – The New Beginning")