Adapted from the novella by Denis Johnson, Train Dreams comes from the team behind Sing Sing, which went on to secure three Oscar nominations. This duo continue to explore American life that is often overlooked by going back to the turn of the 20th century. The film follows Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainer, a railroad worker who, in his humble status, contemplates the meaning of life as he faces both the joys and hardships of a travelling worker.
Dreams immediately sticks out for its use of natural lighting. Many shots are accompanied by beautiful natural light, creating some gorgeous shots of the Pacific Northwest landscape with its trees and rivers illuminated by sunset. The cinematography contains a lot of great framing is used for some serious dramatic moments. This film holds restraint in some of the more life-threatening incidents, filming them from far away leaving us to wonder what is going on. It puts us right in Grainer’s perspective and has us feel like ominous onlookers to some of the bad things that happen in his work as a railway worker and logger. Some angles are particularly creative and interesting, with the camera placed in intentionally surprising places in order to give us new perspectives on a film that mostly takes place in the woods.
All the actors are very good. Joel Edgerton carries this role very well. Will Patton provides excellent narration over the film, giving it its novelistic feel and has some really profound commentary on the life that we see Grainer live. William H. Macy also stands out as a small crucial character, providing some humour and whimsy to this often dark journey. There is an interesting (although incomplete) study of ‘nature versus modernism’ found here. It both celebrates what we have gained from innovation but also mourns what we’ve lost. If you’re looking for a film that explores the meaning of loss, connection and isolation then this is a film you should check out.
Train Dreams is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
