MovieChat Forums > A Street Cat Named Bob (2016) Discussion > The Cafe Scene

The Cafe Scene

posted 7 years ago by highpriestess32
5 replies | jump to latest

God I was disgusted how the owner/member of staff not only denied James a hot meal because he was NINE PENCE short of the £3, but then he chucked that perfectly good food into the sink full of water (after grappling over 9p), and told him never to come back. How insulting and demeaning - I had tears welling up. I would have bought James a meal then thrown my own food into that sink then gone to the local paper and plastered the address and story all over Facebook and other social media to ensure that guy never had another customer! That's the sort of local news story the local media take interest in. Hateful man!

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] louiseculmer 7 years ago

it is a very harrowing scene, and like you it made me very angry. i wished i could have been there to buy him a meal. However, the scene is not in the book, and i do not know if such a thing ever happened to james in real life. And on reflection it seems a silly thing to do - the expression 'cutting off your nose to spite your face' comes to mind. I mean, the cafe man has thrown away a perfectly good meal which he will now not get any money for at all, rather than letting it go for only very slightly less than the normal price. He has come out of it worse than james, who at least still has his money. james could get something at say a fish and chip shop - he could get a fishcake or a battered sausage or a pie or something for what he had. Or a burger at macdonalds.

[–] highpriestess32 7 years ago

Thanks for clarifying the fact that it wasn't in the book for that really both upset and riled me!! On the plus side, I hope this film highlights the homeless plight and gets more folks thinking and ammending their attitudes and perceptions.

Another scene that upset me was when James was tossed a sandwich by a passer-by like he was some gutter rat. Then later on he dropped part of it on the wet pavement but proceeded to pick it up and eat it. He was also going through the bins looking for leftovers. That's hunger and desperation for you. I think I would like to get involved with the Homeless Charities in some way. My partner is an ex-Naval chef and he would gladly volunteer in a soup kitchen for a start.

This is the sort of emotive film that raises awareness. Next on my list is "I, Daniel Blake", regarding the DWP. I always said someone should write a script for this subject matter. Claimants are often patronised and made to feel like criminals - and yes, I am such a claimant and have a disability through no fault of my own (progressive Scoliosis and three herniated lumbar discs). I was an athlete and these days I can barely dress myself x

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] louiseculmer 7 years ago

I actually didn't mind the man giving him the sandwich, i thought it was kindly meant. it was still in the packet and hadn't been touched, and i think james was glad to have it. i think the bit where he pick it up off the ground is sad - it shows how hungry he was. Likewise the bit where he is going through the dustbins. that is interesting about your partner being an ex naval chef, my husband has a niece who is married to an ex army chef - they run a gastro pub now.

I think that james's book has helped change people's minds - they understand better for instance that selling the big issue is a job, and people have reported having a more sumpathetic attitue as a result of wqtching this film. i hope the film does the same thing for people. there are always lots of buskers in the town near which i live, i usually give some of them something, but not all of them as there are so many. but the book and the film have certainly made me more aware, and many others too I think.

i am sorry about your disability, that must be rotten for you. people who need disability benefit should be able to get it without being made to feel bad about it.

[–] highpriestess32 7 years ago

They seem to have improved lately and gave me a decent rebate which came as a very nice and welcome surprise as it enabled me to buy a slightly newer car for my partner who had previously been throwing good money after bad on his old rust bucket 

Thank you for saying what you said, that was a very kind comment for I know not everyone approves of benefits but some days I struggle to get out of bed let alone dress myself which is why my partner fast-tracked moving in with me. He has a part-time job (which he is allowed), and cares for me the rest of the time so we get by quite well compared to others so I am always grateful for the welfare we are in receipt of.

Yes, I guess it was kindly meant regarding the sandwich although I would have been a little more graceful in my deliverance I think! There was a homeless young man in Scarborough on a recent trip so my elderly mother and I bought him some food packets then asked if there was anything he needed so he kindly asked for socks and underwear as it was hard to get anything dry. We bought him a few packs for which he was very grateful. It's sad to see anyone homeless in this day and age.

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] bobbydallas (8059) 6 years ago

Same here.. the way he just wastes that food was absolutely atrocious :(