A waitress doesn't notice the two criminals in her section.


NIGHT CAFE is used with permission from Joshua Nowak. Learn more at https://joshuanowak.com.


Nicky is working as a waitress at a diner. She's on the late night shift, and it's not been a good one, with an injury to her head, an irate boss and customers stiffing her on tips.

She's having such a bad day that she barely notices the two criminals in her section, who are embroiled in their own disagreement. On this eventual night, their fates will intertwine as the "compound interest" of thoughts and actions culminate, changing Nicky's life in unexpected ways.

Directed and written by Joshua Nowak, this short crime drama functions like a slice of Americana, with its extended cast of characters gathered in an archetypal setting. Those who enjoy how the Coen Brothers riff on the crime and noir genres, such as FARGO, might find much to admire in this short, which similarly applies quirky but characterfocused storytelling to a humble setting and unexpected philosophical resonance.

The center of this setting is the waitress Nicky, played by actor Kimmy Shields with an aggrieved, wornout demeanor. Injured and treated without compassion by her boss, she's simply trying to get through the night, one so bad that she barely notices the criminals sitting in her section. The excellent writing weaves a cast of characters around Nicky, each with their distinct perspective or story. Nicky's boss Jack doesn't care about her injury; he only wants her to get back out there to attend to customers. The two criminals sitting in her section bicker about the approach they have toward the crime job they've just committed. Sydney played by veteran character actor Gene Jones with unusual gravitas talks about the accumulation of small daily actions, adding up positive investments in behavior and thought and taking in each moment. But his coconspirator isn't buying it. He's focused on getting back on the road and putting as much distance as possible between their crime scene and themselves.

Another customer has been waiting so long for takeout that Jack comps him his meal, making Nicky lose out on important tips which makes her confront the customer out in the parking lot, thinking he was stealing. As Nicky, her manager and the customer trade arguments and insults, the criminals take advantage of the ruckus to move on. But Sydney's conspirator, still in a rush, leaves Nicky an unexpected bonus one that might help free her from the cycle she's stuck in.

Part of the pleasure of NIGHT CAFE beyond its beautifully careworn visuals and the stealthy stylishness of its downhome take on crime drama is to observe the unknowing interconnections between characters. There's also a philosophical thoughtfulness, with conversations and arguments about compounding good actions and "victim mentality." Nicky is berated for acting like a victim, but she is certainly exploited and treated less than human at her job. So it is deeply satisfying to witness nothing less than good luck or perhaps even karma at work, like watching the pieces of a puzzle of life fall into place.