Waitress is a real gem of a film. Its one of those rare treats that comes along every year - an indie film with a big heart that captures the attention and the admiration of its audience - and is well worth seeing.

The film stars Keri Russell - of TV's Felicity - as Jenna, a waitress living in the south who has a passion for baking pies that are loved by all who eat them. She has a real talent for this and would like nothing more than to gather enough money to open up her very own pie shop and do what she loves most.

However, there is one major problem. She is married to a man she doesn't love, Earl, who she says was much different before they got married. She lives in fear of him and his controlling nature - he forces her to give him all of her wages and will not let her have her own car - and wishes she could escape from her unhappy home.

Keri Russell's performance as Jenna is so outstanding and it is surprising that she was not recognised when the Golden Globes… more »

Waitress is a real gem of a film. Its one of those rare treats that comes along every year - an indie film with a big heart that captures the attention and the admiration of its audience - and is well worth seeing.

The film stars Keri Russell - of TV's Felicity - as Jenna, a waitress living in the south who has a passion for baking pies that are loved by all who eat them. She has a real talent for this and would like nothing more than to gather enough money to open up her very own pie shop and do what she loves most.

However, there is one major problem. She is married to a man she doesn't love, Earl, who she says was much different before they got married. She lives in fear of him and his controlling nature - he forces her to give him all of her wages and will not let her have her own car - and wishes she could escape from her unhappy home.

Keri Russell's performance as Jenna is so outstanding and it is surprising that she was not recognised when the Golden Globes and the Oscars came around. She is so tragically sweet and sympathetic, trapped in a loveless relationship with a man who has made her feel completely worthless.

Things take a further turn for the worse when Jenna finds out that she is pregnant. Jenna's initial shock turns to resentment as she feels that she'll never be free of the restrictions imposed by Earl and the further complications of having his baby. She decides to try and save up enough money, compete in a out of state pie contest, hopefully win the cash prize and move away for good.

After meeting Jim Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), the new doctor in town who is assigned to look after her during her pregnancy, Jenna finds herself drawn to the man and vice versa. The two begin a passionate affair and even begin to think about running away together. However, he is married too. The pair have to make a choice: stay together and run away or face the problems at home before it is too late.

The story - written by Adrienne Shelly who co-stars as Dawn and was tragically murdered soon after the film was completed - plays out beautifully as it progresses towards the dénouement where Jenna ultimately discovers her true feelings for Earl, Jim and her baby. The ending is truly bittersweet on a number of levels and completes the story perfectly.

If you would like to see a film that warms the heart, makes you truly feel for the characters involved, makes you alarmingly hungry - Jenna's pies will have you salivating by the first ten minutes of the film - and leaves a final, lovely taste in your mouth by the end, then Waitress is the film for you. Waitress was criminally overlooked at all of the major awards ceremonies, but now is your chance to experience a film with a big heart which had a lot of love put into by it by writer/director Adrienne Shelly, who actually wrote the screenplay whilst pregnant with her daughter.

This is a true gem of a film and deserves your firm and undivided attention. Heartfelt, original and sweet till the last, it will only leave you wanting more.