The film Text copyright (c) Filmverdict 2006-present. Any film titles and artwork used are copyright of their respective owners.
After five features, Wes Anderson has established one of the more distinctive visual styles of any director working today. Indeed, it is mainly this visual style that makes his films polarise opinion so much. Anderson's aesthetic is about as far removed from documentary realism as it is possible to get - every shot is clearly carefully considered, and the camera only ever moves in straight lines, if at all. The lack of spontaneity and obvious choreographed nature of the onscreen action mean that it is impossible to forget you are watching a film, but somehow in Anderson's case that seems to be part of the appeal. The Darjeeling Limited does not depart much from the status quo, except in the setting. The film was entirely shot on location in India, and the idiosyncratic surroundings prevent a feeling of repetition from setting in. Certainly the characters of Darjeeling inhabit the not-quite-reality found in all of Anderson's films (WesWorld?), but the criticism the young auteur sometimes faces that his films lack emotion does not apply here.
The film is a heartfelt and emotional account of three brothers' journey across India via train (the name of which gives the film its title). The siblings have not seen each other in a year, since the funeral of their father, and oldest brother Francis (Owen Wilson) has arranged the trip so that they can get to know each other better. Jack (Jason Schwartzman, also co-writer) has been travelling the world since the funeral and has failed to face up to their father's death. His personal backstory is embellished in the short film Hotel Chevalier, which helpfully plays before the film in the UK, and shows his meeting in Paris with his on-off girlfriend (Natalie Portman, who reveals a lot of flesh). Why the short was not just incorporated in the main film as a prologue is a mystery, because the information it provides is extremely helpful and its events are referenced repeatedly in the later narrative. As an audience we join the train journey when third brother Peter boards, played by Adrien Brody, who is the only major player new to the world of Wes but fits in immediately. Going by appearances, a more unlikely set of brothers would be difficult to find, but that adds to the comedy; in terms of behaviour, it seems like these three guys really have known each other for their whole lives.
When writing the script, Anderson, Schwartzman and Roman Coppola travelled through India themselves and the resulting story partly reflects their experiences. The endeavour adds a definite tinge of believability to proceedings. Presumably not all of the events that occur in the film actually happened, however - there are some moments that border on absurd but also draw hearty laughs. Typically of Anderson, though, there's more than just a meandering pace and a decent scattering of chuckles. In the later stages as the script delves deeper into their characters the film becomes commendably moving, although the constant Anderson artifice does have a distancing effect. Just like any of his films, The Darjeeling Limited slowly works its way into your consciousness. When it's over, there's little sense of great catharsis or elation at having seen something wonderful, but it stays with you for some time after the credits roll.
The summary
Winding, episodic and occasionally aimless, but also a thoughtful, well-acted and amusingly quirky story. Wes Anderson fans will feel at home.
Agree? Disagree? Say so in the Guestbook!