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Review: The Darjeeling Limited

By: Runa :+: Under: Entertainment, Movies, Review
On: ⋅ April 14, 2008 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

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I recently watched Wes Anderson ’s “The Darjeeling Limited” on DVD.

The film stars Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman (who also co-wrote the movie). The three play the Whitman brothers who have not spoken for a year- since the death of their father. Their mother is missing from the funeral – much as she seems to have been missing from their lives most of the time. Francis (played by Wilson), the eldest type-A sibling organizes a reunion-cum- spiritual journey to India where Peter ( Brody ) and Jack(Schwartzman) join him on the “Palace on Wheels”-inspired “Darjeeling Limited”. The train also houses the delectable Amara Karan as attendant. No account of the cast will be complete without mentioning the gorgeous matched set of Marc Jacobs-designed Louis Vuitton luggage that the trio drag along with them on a rollicking “spiritual’ journey to India. Honestly, the luggage is so beautiful that it deserves top billing! With all the subtlety of a jackhammer, the luggage,of course, stands as gorgeous metaphor for all the baggage that the Whitman family- one that puts the “fun” in dysfunctional-carries around.

My theory on foreign travelers to India is this: they go there looking for shit or salvation.

India usually grants them whatever they are looking for. (Occasionally, they are unlucky enough to go looking for one and find the other!). Not the Whitmans who do find some kind of redemption. Along the way they are helped out by generous doses of Indian cough medicine and other assorted pharmaceuticals, the inevitable Indian snake, a quickie in the train bathroom with Amara for Jason and a thrilling river rescue. I cannot reveal much more without ruining the film for you.

For once, the caricature is not of Indians or India. Rather all the lampooning is of the American trio as they travel through India in search of spiritual salvation armed with laminated (!) itineraries. I like the way Anderson has explored themes of sibling rivalry and contentious relationships with parents. Interestingly enough, Anderson himself is one of three brothers – I wonder if he borrowed from real life? The brothers each sport scars – physical or psychological. Francis is heavily bandaged for most of the movie – victim of a purported accident. Peter is running away from his heavily pregnant wife- unable or unwilling to accept fatherhood. Jack – presumably the youngest – is recovering from a broken heart and readily succumbs to the charms of Rita (played by Amara Karan). (I just don’t get the fascination with coupling in cramped spaces while traveling. I don’t think the director ever went into an actual train loo in India – suffice to say that real –life conditions are enough to kill any ardor!)

The Wikipedia entry on Anderson says (link) :

Wes Anderson is known for making independent type stylistic films which mix poignancy and dry humor. Anderson’s films typically make use of slow motion shots, as well as folk and early rock music. His often damaged characters are viewed in a compassionate light

By the end of the movie, one can’t help but like the Whitman brothers. Their wide-eyed optimism despite their travails and absorption with India and Indians endear them to the viewer. I normally have no patience or sympathy with the idea that travelling to India will help you reclaim your lost soul – but in the case of these three I’ll make an exception.

Per wiki (link) :

Anderson has revealed that The River by Jean Renoir, the films of Satyajit Ray (to whom the movie is dedicated) and documentaries on India by Louis Malle were his inspirations for this movie.

Visually, the movie is pretty stunning. Shot on location in Jodhpur – the flat desert tones of the background contrast with the vivid colors of the Darjeeling Limited train and the various temples visited. India looks good!

I must mention the music. Anderson is known for his eclectic music selection in his movies. The Darjeeling limited soundtrack features vintage melodies from the Kinks , the Rolling Stones and my personal favorite - the prominent use of a Peter Sarstedt song. A lot of Indian music is used - going beyond the standard Sitar tunes - to using Satyajit Ray’s “Charu’s theme” from his movie Charulatha and also scores by Shankar -Jaikishen.

Irfan Khan appears in a cameo.Waris Ahluwalia is very impressive in a small role at the head attendant on the train. Towards the end of the movie, a nice montage of the various train compartments clue you in on the fact that the director probably wanted the train itself to be a metaphor for life.

When you see the movie on DVD, I would encourage you to watch the short film “Hotel Chevalier” starring Natalie Portman before the main feature.Its a kind of “prequel” and gorgeously shot at the Hotel Raphael in Paris. Whenever I go to Paris, I want to stay there.

All in all “The Darjeeling Limited” is rather a satisfying cinematic experience.

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