The Darjeeling Limited

The Darjeeling Limited - Trailer

Posted Jul 31, 2007

Three brothers re-forge family bonds on a train ride across the vibrant and sensual landscape of India, following the death of their father.

2007
Directed by: Wes Anderson

Cast:
Owen Wilson - Francis
Adrian Brody - Peter
Jason Schwartzman - Jack
Amara Karan - Rita
Bill Murray - The Businessman
Natalie Portman - Jack’s X-girlfriend


The Darjeeling Limited is in a nutshell, a roadtrip movie. Like all road trip movies it follows that there are passengers, there is a destination and everyone learns something valuable along the way. This time three brothers meet each other for a spiritual journey of sorts put together by the oldest; Francis(Owen Wilson), who assumes a motherly role over the other two - Jack, a womanizer played by Jason Schwartzman and the other, Peter, who is much of a mystery as he doesn’t divulge much in the way of character beyond the fact that his wife is going to give birth very soon. Francis has brought them all together to bond and see spiritual sites in India. They travel on the Darjeeling Limited (hence the name).
In the beginning all the brothers are mistrusting of each other. Along the journey the two young brothers go along with the older one’s dictating and incessant planning but eventually they turn on each other and a fight on the train ensues. They are promptly kicked off; dropped off in the middle of nowhere. Just when it seems like their spiritual journey has come to an end does it really truly begin.
To its credit the Darjeeling Limited does a good job of portraying the closeness and strain that is brotherhood. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to end. Just about the time when you feel the story should have ended there is a flashback and the story is catapulted into a different direction.
There are a few comedic moments and without this would make for a dry tale. In the beginning Bill Murray makes a guest appearance. He is passed up by Adrian Brody as they try to catch the train. I don’t know if this is symbolic but it sure seemed so to me. More symbolism is at the end when all the film’s characters are shown, each in a train compartment that alludes to their current place in life. It is a creative piece of work but one can’t help but wonder if the film is trying to hard to make its point.
2 ½ stars