claim: Ned Stark was introduced in 1996's Olympics.
evidence: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe is a 1991 Merchant Ivory film , produced by Ismail Merchant and directed by Simon Callow , starring Vanessa Redgrave and Keith Carradine .. Simon Callow. Simon Callow. Ismail Merchant. Ismail Merchant. Vanessa Redgrave. Vanessa Redgrave. Keith Carradine. Keith Carradine. Merchant Ivory. Merchant Ivory. Michael Hirst adapted the Edward Albee play , which in turn was based on a novella in a collection of short stories of the same title by Carson McCullers .. Edward Albee. Edward Albee. Michael Hirst. Michael Hirst ( writer ). Carson McCullers. Carson McCullers. same title. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe. The film was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival .. 41st Berlin International Film Festival. 41st Berlin International Film Festival. The story 's protagonist is a lonely moonshiner named Miss Amelia who dominates a small Georgia town .. She changes in attitude and kindness as two men , Cousin Lymon -LRB- a small , hunchbacked man claiming to be Miss Amelia 's cousin -RRB- and Marvin Macy -LRB- Miss Amelia 's ex-husband -RRB- enter her life .. Her general store becomes a center for culture and music , and The Sad Cafe itself becomes a symbol of Miss Amelia 's disposition .. Amid this plot , issues of work vs. pleasure , material vs. psychological health , and conflicting loyalties emerge .. The short story is told in flashback -- giving the reader , first , a look at the ruined cafe before describing its heyday and subsequent demise .