The Darjeeling Ltd ~~~~~

THE best film of the year (or maybe a tie with Bourne III)!

I loved, loved, loved this film. Totally and for many, many reasons. But before you think oh, I'll go see this, you must first empty your mind and heart of anything alluding to pretentiousness and hardness in order to take the film at face value. A great big smiley face too! (Also if you didn't like 'Life Aquatic' or 'The Royal Tenenbaums' by the same director Wes Anderson, then you'll probably not warm to this either... shame on you!)


Anyway, the story involves three brothers played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman who meet up after their fathers funeral to spend time together and track down their mother who's taken refuge in an abbey in India. The brothers are all full of quirks and have very particular relationships with each other - and at least half the joy of the film can be found in these relationships. They are full of wonder and sentiment, distrust and love. I could have watched their lives and adventures all day! That's the sentimentalist in me perhaps?

Their journey takes them onto the wonderful and colourful 'Darjeeling Ltd' train across India; full of travellers and staff who come into contact with the brothers and enrich and enrage their lives. The brothers bring with them a marvellous array of monogrammed luggage (about 5 or 6 bags each) inherited from their father whilst many of the highlights of the film involve the siblings arguing, squabbling and fighting over other items left to them by their dearly departed pop.

The film is so rich and full of noise and colour - I immediately wanted to have an adventure in India on a train. You could close your eyes and imagine the markets in the towns or the train restaurant carriage and maybe, quite easily, the brothers apartment full of spilled alcohol, perfume and prescription drugs. At some point it could all be interpreted as quite a bizarre world of overindulgence and mental health issues but I see it the other way. Quirky is good. Gentle is wonderful. Love and understanding will make everything better.

Even before the main film begins, you are treated to a wonder 15 minute vignette with brother number three (Schwartzman) and Natalie Portman. Set in a French hotel room, no overlaid music, no explanations one is introduced to an awkward relationship going somewhere unknown. It made me cry - tears of both understanding and joy - joy at how wonderful film can be!

Please give this film a chance. Even if you are disappointed and profess not to know what to do with it, I guarantee it will make an impact one way another. If you'd like to get me a Christmas present (ok it will be a bit late) please get me a copy of this film. Wonderful.