The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson does strange movies and if you do not remember him think about the Royal Tenenbaums. Is that kind of movie and story that you do not really know what to think but you keep watching until the end.

The Darjeeling Limited is strange but perhaps is less strange than The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Strange because the casting, strange because the story is weak as you really do not “feel” the reason why the three brothers bond again and strange because you cannot take your eyes from the screen, you simply stay watching those visually astonishing images one after the other.

Tells about the three Whitman brothers Francis (Owen Wilson), Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) who have not spoken to each other in a year and set off on a train (and other means) voyage across India. Many things happen while they pursue their “spiritual quest”.

But to me this movie is a very good series of images and I was wondering –and perhaps I’ll do it- what would happen if I see it again without sound; I suspect that the movie could be a lot more mesmerizing and interesting. In a way I’m telling you that the narrative is not that interesting or worth it; would have been better without words, like one scene where the mother asks them not to talk and just think about whatever they were discussing. Yeah, probably that’s the best way to see this road movie.

The movie premiered in the 2007 Venice Film Festival where was in competition. I suppose that if you are familiar with Wes Anderson movies and you enjoy them you cannot miss this one, as perhaps is one of his best. If you’re not familiar I suggest you give it a try only if you like art cinema with outstanding visuals of India lifestyle.

I liked the movie for great cinematography, but the story is really weak.