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Darjeeling Limited, The
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Quirky, bittersweet odyssey about three estranged siblings -- the eldest, controlling brother recovering from a near-fatal injury (Owen Wilson), anxious father-to-be middle son (Adrien Brody), and the youngest, a writer (Jason Schwartzman) -- who set out on a spiritual journey on a train through India after their father's death, including a visit to a Himalayan monastery where their widowed mother (Angelica Huston) has become a nun. Though the colorful film, as per director and co-writer Wes Anderson's usual style, is not conventionally structured, it becomes more involving as well as genuinely touching as it progresses, with some off-putting antics of the brothers at the start of their trip yielding to reflection and transformation after a tragic occurrence along the way. A nonmarital sexual encounter without nudity, brief rough language and profanity, and a drug reference. A-III --Adults. (R) 2007
"Murder on the Orient Express" this is not, but the more episodic film under consideration here is the latest in a time-honored line of picturesque movies set on trains in exotic locales.
"The Darjeeling Limited" (Fox Searchlight) is a quirky, bittersweet odyssey about three estranged siblings. There's Francis (Owen Wilson), the eldest, controlling brother recovering from a near-fatal injury; Peter (Adrien Brody), anxious father-to-be middle son; and Jack, the youngest (Jason Schwartzman), a writer who, despite frequent denials on his part, takes all his story ideas from life.
Francis -- his head all bandaged from the accident -- has orchestrated a reunion in India for the brothers, who have not seen each other since their father's death a year earlier. They will take a cross-country trip on the titular train, which will be as much a spiritual journey as a literal one.
They will bicker occasionally, with both Jack and Peter pushing back (but not too strenuously) against Francis' overly domineering ways. (He insists on holding onto everyone's passport, laying out each day's agenda and even ordering his brothers' food at meal time.)
Francis also has planned a surprise visit to the Himalayan orphanage where their widowed mother, Patricia (Angelica Huston), has become a nun.
On their journey, there are several incidents that disrupt Francis' carefully planned itinerary. Jack will have a furtive affair with the train's stewardess, Rita (Amara Karan); Peter will acquire a troublesome snake. And the train's conductor will be so perturbed by their antics, he will threaten to toss them off, luggage and all.
Eventually, he does.
The colorful film -- courtesy of Mark Friedberg's production design and Robert Yeoman's cinematography -- continually beguiles the eye. Director and co-writer Wes Anderson's unconventional structure becomes more involving as well as genuinely touching as it progresses, with some of the brothers' off-putting antics at the start of their trip yielding to reflection and transformation after a tragic occurrence along the way.
Though the spiritual nourishment the boys receive is, of course, mainly of the Hindu variety -- the visit to their mother's convent and a service there notwithstanding -- the real spiritual thrust has to do with their bonding as brothers and their unspoken insight into the important things of life.
Wilson, Brody and Schwartzman (who co-wrote the screenplay with Anderson and Roman Coppola) have never been better on screen and make convincing siblings. It must be added that there's a special poignancy in Wilson's dialogue, given the parallels to the actor's real-life brush with death.
Though some may long for a more plot-driven structure, there's no denying the sights, sounds and emotions offered here are engaging, while the significant themes of loss, loneliness, reconciliation and, most especially, familial unity are never far from the surface.
The film contains a nonmarital sexual encounter without nudity, brief rough language and profanity, and a drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.
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