"This world is intricately stitched together, boys. Every thread we pull, we know not how it affects the design of things. We are but children on this Earth, pulling bolts out of a Ferris wheel and thinking ourselves to be gods."
Dreamers, loners, and lovers of the great outdoors, this film is for you.
Adapted from the Denis Johnson (1949-2017) novella of the same name, Train Dreams follows logger Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) from the late 1800s through to the late 1960s as we bear witness to the days - happy, hard, random, and heartbreaking - that make up a life.
As a young man, Grainier works clearing the way for the railroads but yearns to be back in Idaho. Later, he stays home, exploring the woods - and his memories. It's a lovely performance from Edgerton, and there are some beautiful scenes with his co-stars Felicity Jones, William H Macy, and Kerry Condon. Throughout, the visuals are stunning.
Clint Bentley, who directed the acclaimed Jockey and co-wrote the Oscar-nominated Sing Sing, mines the powerful ecological message from author Johnson's source material - the novella is described as "beloved", and many will feel the same way about this film. Here, technological progress and the ravages of time are subtly conveyed as the years disappear. Through them all, there is one constant: the breathtaking majesty of the natural world.
Anyone who has lost themselves in the likes of Days of Heaven, Into the Wild, and Wild will find a place in their heart for this film. It's slow-moving but works wonders on the soul. It has just arrived on Netflix; after watching, you'll be itching to switch off the box and go for a walk.
