[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_station_agent_2003.jpg]]

''The Station Agent'' is a 2003 comedy-drama film written and directed by Tom [=McCarthy=], starring Creator/PeterDinklage, Creator/PatriciaClarkson, Creator/MichelleWilliams and Creator/BobbyCannavale.

Dinklage plays Finbar "Fin" [=McBride=], a quiet man who moves into an abandoned train depot in Newfoundland, New Jersey which he inherits when his friend and coworker dies. The withdrawn Fin soon finds himself reluctantly enmeshed in the lives of his new neighbors.

The film won scriptwriter Thomas [=McCarthy=] the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.

----
!!Contains the following tropes:

* AbandonedArea: An abandoned train station.
* CaptainObvious: Carl's narration of his homemade train movie. Did ''you'' know that smoke goes back when the train goes forward?
* {{Catchphrase}}: Olivia's "Shit!"
* {{Deuteragonist}}: Olivia. While the story plays from Fin's perspective, it's her personal issues that drive much of the plot.
* DiscriminateAndSwitch: Fin has dwarfism, and is also passionate about trains, which leads to this exchange.
-->'''Joe''': Do they have clubs for you people?\\
''(Beat. Fin and Olivia exchange glances.)''\\
'''Fin''': What?\\
'''Joe''' (oblivious): You know, like, a "Train of the Month" club.
* DoggedNiceGuy: A rare platonic version. Joe is really interested in being Fin's friend, despite Fin being absolutely disinterested.
-->'''Joe''': So, if you guys do something later, can I come?\\
'''Fin''': We're not doing anything later.\\
'''Joe''': Yeah but if you do, can I come?\\
'''Fin''': ...We're not doing anything.\\
'''Joe''': Yeah, but...if you do, can I come?
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Olivia manages to almost kill Fin twice in one day.
* GlassesAreSexy: Invoked when Fin has a quasi-romance with a [[HotLibrarian librarian]] and his friends suggest he should buy her some glasses.
--> '''Joe:''' It's the librarian fantasy, man. Glasses off, hair down, books flying.\\
'''Fin:''' She doesn't wear glasses.\\
'''Olivia:''' Well, buy her some. It's worth it.
* {{Jerkass}}: Chris.
* JobTitle: The Station Agent. Although, Fin never worked as one.
* KidsAreCruel: The kids in the street mock Fin by comparing him to a dwarf in ''Snow White''.
* LikesOlderWomen: Joe says that Olivia has a "sexy smart older woman thing going."
* LittlePeopleAreSurreal: Averted. Fin is really just a normal, fairly boring person who gets frustrated when people treat him as if he's unusual because of his dwarfism.
* LonelyTogether: The central theme of the film, as each of the characters is desperately lonely but in ''completely'' different ways.
* LoonyFriendsImproveYourPersonality: Oh, yes.
* ManChild: Joe. Some guy playing with kids asks to buy soda:
--> ''"We're closed. I'll play soccer with you though!" (runs off)''
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Joe provides an incredibly hammy commentary while he's out train-chasing with Fin.
* NoAntagonist: The protagonists' personal turmoils provide all the conflict.
* PlotMandatedFriendshipFailure: Fin stops being on speaking terms with Joe after the latter stood him up at The Mill.
* RailEnthusiast: Fin
* RailroadTracksOfDoom: A train passes over Fin when he drops on the track drunk.
* SittingOnTheRoof: Fin and Harry chill out on the roof on train club night.
* TheStoic: Fin. He [[DefrostingIceKing gets better]].
* SupremeChef: Joe, who apparently knows what a garlic press is.
* TitleDrop: Late in the film, when Clea asks if Fin is living in the old station like a conductor would have, he corrects her that that person would be the station agent.
* ToplessnessFromTheBack: Olivia in front of her bathroom mirror.
* UnexpectedInheritance: Harry apparently owned an abandoned train depot in Newfoundland, and bequeathed it to Fin.
----