The life of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) plays out to the background of the rapidly changing times of the 20th Century. A simple man who works as a logger and railroad builder whilst trying to find his purpose in this world. 

Train Dreams is a film that I have now watched twice and have continually put off writing a review for because of the simple fact that I do not consider myself talented enough as a writer to be able to encapsulate how perfect it is. I definitely think that there needs to be words like elegiac, wistful and mournful somewhere in the mix but ultimately this is a film that has the ability to make me feel so deeply touched by it that I have finished the film in tears on both watches so far. One of the notes I wrote myself after my first watch was as follows; It has a lyrical feel to it that makes it feel like home. A warm enveloping embrace that you can bathe in. Like a folk song that feels like a lullaby. 

The story is fairly simple. Robert Grainier’s life begins somewhere roughly in the 1880’s, he is unaware of who his parents are and the exact day or year of his birth. Over the course of his years there are immense changes to how we live and the tools we use. During the course of his years working on a wooden railway bridge and felling trees he works alongside itinerant workers and sees rapid industrialisation. But he struggles to develop a connection with both the people and the world around him resulting in him intensely watching and taking in his surroundings. As he goes through his long life he shares it with some key individuals who help define how he perceives his impact on the greater scheme of things. Firstly and most importantly there is his wife Gladys (Felicity Jones) whom he has a daughter with and makes grand plans with. And then there are those he shares a more fleeting but no less unimportant bond with. Arn Peoples (William H. Macy) is an older logger who has seen far more than Robert in his long life and shares his wisdom freely. Ignatius Jack (Nathaniel Arcand) is the town store owner who offers him friendship and companionship in difficult times. And Claire Thompson (Kerry Condon) is a widower who he meets in later life who has a likeminded spirit to his own. 

The themes throughout relate to how our lives, no matter how small and inconsequential in the grand scheme of the entirety of existence, still matter. Everything in the natural world is interconnected in a way that is impossible for us to comprehend and ultimately is beautiful. 

Such a grandiose and all encompassing theme requires all of its constituent parts to be bound together perfectly and it is here that I have to credit the creative team in delivering such beauty. Based on a novella by Denis Johnson the story was adapted into a screenplay by Greg Kweder and Clint Bentley. Bentley who also directs has previously directed a film called Jockey which I also found rather beautiful and is clearly a bright talent to keep our eyes on. His marshalling of all of the facets that make this film have created something rather special. 

The narration by Will Patton that delivers meaningful words woven into the story. The editing by Parker Laramie weave Grainier’s thoughts and dreams perfectly with the events of his life. The cinematography from Adolpho Veloso delivers stunning shots of Washington state and includes the classic Terence Malick style of tree shots. The score delivered by The National’s Bryce Dessner reinforces the emotional motifs throughout and there is even a Nick Cave original song created for the film in the end credits. And then on top of this there are the perfect performances from the entire cast whom I have already mentioned. 

Joel Edgerton has always been a wonderful character actor, but here he leads this film beautifully. A man with intense feelings, some mumbled words and a wistful look. He needs to be in more westerns. And whilst Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon and Nathaniel Arcand all make good cases as the most impactful supporting character for me it has to be William H. Macy’s Arn Peoples. A man who seems to encapsulate the grand scope of the films themes in his words and acts and leaves us with a heartfelt final message. 

Train Dreams is a towering achievement in cinema and I hope you not only seek it out but find yourself connecting with it in the way it has so deeply connected with me.