Don Henley‘s song SUNSET GRILL reflects on a non-negotiable, unchanging status quo where everybody knows everybody’s name. Sometimes though, you need a little shaking up…which is the conundrum that affects the inhabitants of a roadside diner in writer/director Alexandros Tsilifonis‘ new noir drama CAFE 404.
Riddled with guilt and trauma from the killing of his parents as a child outside, Jimmy (Dimitri Gripari) presides over said title diner, not exactly coining it in at present, given that a motorway has been denying access to customers who might want to stop off for a quick bite and a bout of leg-stretching. This is no Burger King, but it is a whopper of a dying business.
Helping him keep it together are till girl Mara (Margauz Karayianni), big-bodied and big-hearted house chef Abi (Jerome Kaluta) and ageing handyman Nicos (Antonis Tsiotsiopoulis). All are very loyal to him in their own sweet way but reality steps in when the bank is foreclosing on the property, something that is not lost on Jimmy who wants to maintain the legacy of his grandfather.
Things get complicated when a bloodied male walks in with a gym bag that contains what appears to be a million in cash. When other dead corpses and a second bag of drugs turn up at the diner, the quartet start making all kinds of contingencies – and excuses – to try and save themselves and the diner….
Atmospheric and involving Greek indie, eschewing all the key virtues that make up a good cinematic noir – a dead body or four, lots of questionable speculation and ‘what ifs’ and the feeling that things could be a little more straightforward if you go for the obvious. However, this is a noir – and you can guarantee that actions have consequences if you don’t stick to the path.
Great cinematography and performances are a virture here, with the quartet of actors showing good chemistry. Film does have the potential to reach a wider audience given time.
CAFE 404 is the Opening Night film at the 2025 London Independent Film Festival, taking place at the Genesis Cinema, Mile End, London UK from 4th – 13th April 2025.
Tickets at: https://www.genesiscinema.co.uk/whatson/events