The Darjeeling Limited [M]

Francis, Peter, and Jack are three American brothers who have not spoken to each other for a year. But, after an invitation from Francis concealing a few minor details, the three embark upon a train trip, going across India on a spiritual journey to find themselves and ‘”be brothers like they used to be”. But when they are thrown off the train due to one or two incidents involving a deadly snake and over the counter medication, they find themselves stranded in the desert and embarking upon an entirely different journey that was not on the itinerary. 

What is it about this film? Written and directed by Wes Anderson, The Darjeeling Limited is a beautiful and quirky comedy about trying to achieve something and having things not pan out according to plan. This is the second time I’ve seen this film and it’s just as funny, quirky, and lovely as the first time. It’s a gem. 

Francis, Peter, and Jack are three American brothers who have not spoken to each other for a year. But, after an invitation from Francis concealing a few minor details, the three embark upon a train trip, going across India on a spiritual journey to find themselves and ‘”be brothers like they used to be”. But when they are thrown off the train due to one or two incidents involving a deadly snake and over the counter medication, they find themselves stranded in the desert and embarking upon an entirely different journey that was not on the itinerary. 

Everything about this movie is subtle and awkward: the story, the performances, even the choice of music, it all seems random and unfounded and it makes the film all the more captivating because it gives the audience the feeling that there are things going on that are they are not being told. 

At a glance, this movie is three brothers on a train, exchanging stories about what’s happened to them over the year and not telling each other certain details of their lives. To put it a more “spiritual” way, this is a movie where you can’t see the comedy, but you can feel it. You can sense that the story is progressing and you know where the humour and drama lies. When you think about it, it’s actually very intimate. 

I particularly like the way that random, idiotic, and senseless acts come in to play against the dramatic and sometimes more emotional scenes: case in point, when Adrien Brody buys an incredibly deadly snake, and the three brothers decide to get high by mixing each other’s medication. The power of the movie is in the story, script, and screenplay. This is a film where words and the visual are King, and the people in those departments deserve a pat on the back. 

Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Amara Karan, Wallace Wolodarsky, Waris Ahluwalia, Billy Murray, and Angelica Houston, The Darjeeling Limited is a really lovely and very quirky little film that’s filled with snakes, medication, journeys, “romance”, comedy, drama, flashbacks, and suitcases. It is rather quirky, which is probably why I really like it.