'Train Dreams' Review: The beauty and tragedy of life

The air quality in Yerevan is yet again horrific this weekend, leading to another set of days stuck indoors. I'm terrible at this. I never know what to do, so instead of procrastinating I attempted to find some films that might pique my interest that I had not heard of. Roaming through the recent releases over on Letterboxd and doing a bit of research. Train Dreams caught my attention with a brief synopsis that seemed quite unique, and definitely nothing too big in its budget: a logger that lives a relatively simple life during the early 20th century United States of America, witnessing the drastic changes of the society and landscape around him as he himself attempts to live a regular life that takes into consideration the basic foundations of our greatest emotions: love and loss. This seemed different, something without a huge budget but handles the concept of basic humanity in a different era. I've been wanting this lately: a film that doesn't approach the major Hollywood concepts and goes back to the roots of filmmaking.

Jumping into this, I sort of knew what I was getting myself into. I had a general idea of what this would be, though I have to say I was still really blown away at how beautiful of a film this is. And really surprised that I had never heard of this until today. The film shot in a beautiful 4:3 aspect ratio which adds to the dated feeling of the film, but I think what really adds to it through that aspect ratio is that feeling of looking through a window into the past. Witnessing the simple story of one man's life long ago. With so many comparisons between the times. Starting with the troubled upbringing the main character had, a boy with no real understanding of where he came from nor his own birthday. Having grown up with little interest in the world where nothing quite managed to give him purpose, up until he found himself near a woman that he instantly fell in love with. The two spending the days in the fields, laying in tall grass by the river. Enjoying the simplicity of that life together; suddenly everything starts to fall in line.

Robert works as a logger in the tough climate in which rail was constantly needed to expand the network of the United States. This tough work taking him away from his family for months at a time, throwing him back into the wild, surrounded by unique characters much like himself. Nomads that moved from job to job, people without homes that never stopped moving. Quiet souls that never exchanged words. This giving Robert this struggle with belonging, where he misses home and finds his family changing with time. Being so away from them in such important times. This line of work, with a group of strange misfits, leads to it holding various types of dangers beyond the forest. Crime follows the criminals on the run. Laws and justice are ignored. It paints this rough environment for a man that just wants to go home and be with his family, the one thing that has given him some sort of purpose. The film's way to telling its story is incredibly beautiful. With that 4:3 aspect ratio and beautiful directing, it holds some narration which describes the people and spaces that Robert finds himself within. Not even from his own perspective. It's met with dialogue from other characters where the camera is often fixed, slow zooms in and out to reveal a broader context of that environment. There's a very poetic notion to it all that has you really immersed in that world and its characters, even if those characters briefly enter the scene and aren't seen again for the rest of the film. The sets seem very real. The quiet speaking of a safe home interior to the tinkering of rail and treelines filled with smoke from temporary camps for the workers. The film also speaking on how fast things change, as the work done in these locations are quickly made obsolete with the changing times. The contrast between the environment and his own personal life is quite interesting, seeing how he returns home each time with more changes to be seen.

Of course, this wouldn't be an emotional film on the beauty and tragedy of life without the tragedy side more present, and the film sure does pull on your heart as it displays these various forms of loss for Robert. The friends that came and went. The fragility of life as it comes and goes. Even down to more tragic and personal events that come to his way. Even in these moments there's a beauty to the film. The cinematography and the stillness of everything. The appreciation for the interactions between people and the connection to the Earth, even if Robert's main job is to cull nature back for the pursuit of profit. But Robert's goal remains to be with his family, to make enough money to soon put everything behind and settle down with them.

It has been really hard to not mention much of the story here. Only really covering some of the events leading up to halfway. It's an entire roller coaster of emotion throughout. Shot incredibly beautifully and with so much soul to it. Showing the troublesome life of a simple man attempting to find his place in the world at such a difficult time. A story of many. Told in such a fragile way that I don't think anyone could dislike this film, finding something to connect to. I absolutely loved it.