With Spring Break right around the corner, I was inspired by thoughts of travel. I found my mind thinking back to some famous films that involve travel. "National Lampoon's Vacation." "Roman Holiday." "Eurotrip." "Eat, Pray, Love." All of these films had great destinations to offer their viewers, but there was one travel film that I could not stopping thinking about.
The 2007 release "The Darjeeling Limited" tells the unusual tale of three brothers reuniting for the first time since the death of their father.
Francis, Peter and Jack find themselves traveling on a train through India a year after their bitter parting. It is obvious from the start that each of the brothers is dealing with some serious issues in their personal lives. Francis (Owen Wilson), the eldest of the family and the instigator behind the journey, was recently in a near-fatal accident and has the bandages to show for it. The middle brother Peter (Adrien Brody) is happily married, but he's having a nervous breakdown about the upcoming birth of their first child. Jack (Jason Schwartzman), the youngest, recently endured an awful breakup that has left him obsessing over his ex. The three highly depressed and dysfunctional brothers hope to re-bond on a spiritual quest through India, but it is clear from the start that there are deeper issues standing in the way. The brothers argue, fight and mope throughout their journey. Eventually, the brothers realize they need to discover their true selves before their brotherhood can be fully restored.
"The Darjeeling Limited" is a quintessential Wes Anderson film. It is funny, poignant and subtly unusual. Anderson never blatantly tries to make the audience laugh with bawdy humor or pratfalls. Instead he uses a sophisticated humor. When seeing an Anderson film for the first time it feels very unfamiliar, but gradually the humor, or more so the delivery, grows on you. Anderson's beautiful storytelling ability is presented wonderfully in "Darjeeling." He makes the audience laugh through any unhappy circumstance, never leaving the viewers with any sad feelings, only with inspiration.
One of the key aspects of any Anderson film is the music choice. In film, music should enhance the story's emotions, not overwhelm them, like so many do. Anderson has a way of picking out material that seems uncharacteristic for the scene, yet it always manages to somehow enhance the mood. In "The Darjeeling Limited," Anderson uses a wide selection of artists including Ravi Shankar, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Ludwig van Beethoven.
The performances by Wilson, Brody and Schwartzman are beautifully done. Wilson and Schwartzman, both veterans of Anderson's films, fit in perfectly to yet another of his dysfunctional worlds. Brody, a first timer in an Anderson film, does a great job of keeping up with his co-stars. Together they make a memorable brotherhood, despite their total lack of similar family genes. The film also has fun appearances by Bill Murray, Natalie Portman and Angelica Huston.
As a film involving travel, there are some beautiful sights for the eye to behold. Anderson's beautiful cinematography shows a variety of India's landscapes. He captures both the crowded cities and the quieter countryside. India's vivid colors and distinct architecture give the audience something visual to feast on.
Like all great travel films, "The Darjeeling Limited" is truly about discovering something within while exploring new places. So before you head off on your own adventures, why not pop in "The Darjeeling Limited" to become inspired. Or for those who are not going anywhere, watching it will feel like going along on an unforgettable ride through India.
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