wallace shawn and andre gregory play wallace shawn and andre gregory . yes and a the story go and these two old friend catch up much like in the film after andre return from an awaken journey of life through asia and during dinner discuss philosophy and life or death and existentialism . they be so involved and move and amuse by their very deep and meaningful conversation that they both agree to turn their night into a film . and not once during the film do you get the feeling that they be try to remember what they say the night they have the original conversation . it just come naturally and because their idea and opinion be fuel with passion and conviction . their enthusiasm translate through their eye and facial expression and fidgety hand . i be so embroil in their conversation and that the thought of sit in a restaurant for two hour never cross my mind once . i have always be compel by film that be confine to a single set and a claustrophobic surrounding and whether it be one room and one house or one place . these film enable well character development because of the intimacy of the setting . alfred hitchcock and roman polanski and sidney lumet know the great power of single set and understood that great story be never drive by visuals and special effect or mindless mayhem but by character ( s ) everything else serve the character and not vice versa . if you be not take and convince or fascinate by a character if you do not care the film have fail . and while visuals and attractive actor and special effect and over the top action add value to a film and it however do not define a film . that be why those film which possess all attribute other than interest character have shelf life short than the time it take to make them . the reason why die hard succeed over rambo be because we care and love and really get to know john mcclane . what be most fascinate about my dinner with andre be that it only have character . there be no explosion and swearing and sex and cgi and none of the garbage that have attract brainless movie goer for generation and but rather an intimate story of two friend catch up and talk about lose time . not only be this film a character study and but the single setting idea be take a step far because for two hour while your whole notion of the outside world be erase you do not see a single house nor a single room and but a single table . your only visual compass be knife and fork and plate and close ups of wallace and andre . the pure magic of my dinner with andre be it ability to make u feel like we be sit at the dinner table with them and contribute to the idea and thought of the conversation . every time there be a surprise twist or revelation we feel a proud and passionate a they be . the great gift the film bestow upon it viewer be it remarkable storytelling . the script never bore . andre and who do most of the talk and always have our attention . even when we do not quite understand what he be say and his obsessive eagerness to tell u something translate through his body and we be happy to listen and try to make sense of everything . both men have an incredible grasp of language ( both be real theatre producer ) and never be there any awkward or dull word speak . every word seem to be dependent on the other in their philosophical debate . it be because this film be completely dialog driven and lack visual interpretation that our mind create our own . that be the colossal power of the film . you look at the too men and their table but your mind be always elsewhere try to make sense of their feeling and insight . in other word and you be there but you aren not . their word fee our brain with rich and poignant imagery and yet no other location photography and set or computer generate graphic be require and no violence be employ for cheap attention tactic . my dinner with andre can be take on many level . it remind you of how great it be to have a friend you could spend hour with talk about philosophy and science or whatever have you for hour on end and be completely oblivious to lose time . in that respect it be a timeless story of friendship . another interesting dimension to the film be how wallace represent the audience in his reluctance to accept all of andre philosophical view . we voice our concern and opinion and disagreement through him . however andre counter all our remark and criticism with confidence of a prophet . the film center on andre and his five year absence from home and theater . his travel to tibet and india come a work or life anxiety take their toll on his life characterize by writer bloc to the point where his grasp on life be questionable . his experience in asia enlighten him to life true reality and those theory and question and idea and truth that awake him from his robotic death and tax existence of western culture be the film focus . you will find yourself mesmerize by oppose view which in the end combine into a single understanding between friend and an end that will have you think and reflect for hour and with ample conversation material with those who be fortunate to watch this masterpiece with you . i can talk about this film until the saliva in your mouth dry and your tongue grow a daisy . this film be just so deep and masterfully realize . nothing prepare me for it perfect evaluation of all the thought and anxiety and philosophical idea i have ever have . whether you agree with what be say at the table or not and you will no doubt walk away from it a gymnopedie for piano play in the background and think about what a great night you have just have with two very intelligent and interesting people . and you will never forget it .