Sugar and spice

I was thrilled when Waitress was released last year as it combines two of my favorite things: pies and independent film. Waitress, staying true to indie's quirky comedy / drama / romance genre, is a deliciously sweet film about motherhood, friendship and second chances that despite all its savory goodness doesn't leave you in a diabetic coma.

Keri Russell (who became famous thanks to her lovely starring role in the hit series Felicity) plays Jenna, a small-town girl with big dreams and uncanny pie making abilities. She dreams of opening her own pie shop (who doesn't?) and leaving her horrible husband. She inadvertently winds up pregnant and just when she thought her fate was eternally sealed, she encounters just the right ingredient, being a neurotic gynecologist (played by Firefly's Nathan Fillion), who transforms her bleak yet sensationally sweet existence.

Despite the themes Waitress tackles: unwanted pregnancy, domestic violence,... it ultimately ends up being an incredibly warm and uplifting movie filled with glorious desserts like "I-don't-want-Earl's-baby" and "Falling-in-love" pie combined with phenomenal performances by the entire cast. I personally thought it was an ingenious and whimsical idea to use Jenna's creative treats to illustrate her state of mind which also incorporates a perfectly dosed portion of comic relief even at the most darkest moments.

This poignant and heartfelt tale was created by Adrienne Shelly, a talented director, writer and actress (she also plays Dawn in the movie) who is sadly no longer with us. Waitress was inspired by her own feelings when she unexpectedly became pregnant with her daughter Sophie, who also plays Jenna's daughter at the end. Shelly often said that this movie was her "love letter to Sophie".

Shelly (middle in picture) began her career as an actress in Hal Hartley's The Unbelievable Truth. Later she turned to writing and directing. Her films won numerous prizes at several independent film festivals. Shortly after Waitress was accepted at the 2007 Sundance Festival, she was murdered in her own apartment after catching a burglar. The burglar tried to make her death look like suicide but confessed in the end. To honor her memory, her husband founded the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports woman filmmakers.