The Darjeeling Limited

edwardseco

I thought (from the trailer) that self indulgent films went out with the 70's along with leisure suits. I think it was the Monkeys that finally sank puerile. However, I will note the similarity with The River, the supremely bad acting of the lead male actor. Don't get a hook. Acting as bad as John Agar's deserves an Uzi..

karuna

Well, I don't think it particularly matters why or how, I was just saying that films are sometimes inaccurate or casually disregard the "truth". I know Preity Zinta's character was nominally Muslim, but what appeared to be worshipping scenes looked nothing like it to me- movie religion, exactly. I don't think it's something to bash Hollywood in particular for, is my point.

As for it taking place in France, did you see the introductory short where thingy takes her clothes off which "sets the scene" for The Darjeeling Limited (but I hear was separated from the main film in America, thus making some lines in the movie redundant)? That is set in France, and has not one French character in it or anything at all about French culture- it's Jason Schwartzman in a hotel room for 10 minutes, basically. In fact, he's been living in that room for months, and still doesn't know the French for "grilled cheese" when he calls room service. The characters also talk about going to Italy as if it were a mere hop across the border, not even mentioning (if I recall correctly) which city they will meet in. Just "Italy".

The characters in Wes Anderson films are generally self-absorbed and solipsistic and to an extent I expect the backdrop to be little more than backdrop. That's how he can (just about) get away with something like the setting for The Life Aquatic. Ultimately, the film was not "about" India anymore than The Life Aquatic was "about" exploring the sea, or The Royal Tenenbaums was "about" New York (in fact it's never stated that's where they are- the city has no name). I've completely forgotten which American city the Darjeeling brothers were supposed to be from, and I guess it doesn't matter. You could argue that any of Anderson's films could have been set somewhere else. They would have had a different ambience (the Royal Tenenbaums in LA...what a thought!), but the plots would pretty much hold together.

In the case of The Darjeeling Limited Anderson needed a setting that was sufficiently "different" that it would bring into sharp focus how ingrained a family's "learned behaviour" is- even transplanted to an unfamiliar culture they behave like they always do. That wouldn't work in America and would have less effect in Europe since the differences aren't so great.

I think it was much more negative and stereotypical about Americans, specifically "spiritual tourists" with set itineraries (I love that the guy who makes the itineraries is supposed to be never seen to maintain some kind of romantic illusion) and ideas about gurus and magic rituals, yet travelling in a cosseted little world. I love how even at the end ***POTENTIAL SPOILER*** when they've supposedly dropped everything and you see them on the bike, a few seconds later, there's all their luggage that they supposedly "dropped" (BTW I hated the "dropping the baggage" scene- how heavy-handed can a visual metaphor get?). I liked that end bit- they're STILL not really free, not really different.

Spirit of Havelock

Quote:
"I must say this was not a Borat movie the movie was respectful of India but at one point they had which looked like Muslims cremating a child who died on a Hindu like fire. That must be a Movie religion."

.......

Perhaps a bunch of Muslims found a dead kid on the road, that seemed a bit Hihdu-looking, so they did a Hindu cremation to show their commitment to multiculturalism.

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julesa

*SPOILERS*

i saw the film tonight, it was pretty average. why did the female indian railway concierge have an american accent? there were no proper indian accents at all.

at one point they attended what appeared to be a sikh ceremony while in rajastan.

the 'international airport' was made out to be a tiny thing with propeller planes on the tarmac. not quite representative of indira ghandi..

also they seemed to have railway porters carrying their luggage all the time, yet never demanding an unreasonably large tip

edwardseco

Now that last part is too much to believe..

karuna

According to the 1991 census, there were 649,174 Sikhs in Rajasthan. Wikipedia lists 5 historically important gurdwaras in Rajasthan.

The airport was Udaipur airport, which makes sense since they were supposed to be in Rajasthan.

You know what irked me more than the tipless porters and the American-accented Indians? At the airport they order 3 chais and don't pay at all. I hate that kind of thing in movies!

julesa

the airport thing was a minor gripe, but i felt wes anderson was trying to paint a picture of india as a minor outpost, by placing an 'international airport' sign on what was obviously a small, regional airport (udaipur).

to me that was a gross misrepresentation.

Lou Wilson

I think some of us are all taking this movie too serious. Its just a movie. When is the last time Hollywood or Bollywood made an accurate movie. Movies are just a hodgepodge of scenes and dialog with no particular rhyme or reason except to make money.

dzibead

Everybody knows Bollywood is complete fantasy. But I'll bet there are some people who think the Darjeeling Limited is practically a documentary.

julesa

what would movie reviews look like if we accepted that argument? "it's art, that's OK i guess". more fun to pick on it

PeakXV

..... you mean all Aussie girls aren't as wild & crazy as Kate's portrayal in 'Holy Smoke'?

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Lou Wilson

You are absolutely right - Someone who had never been to India told he thought the movie was a good depiction of India and the rail system. Wow Immaculately clean stations with no people - very sanitized. HOW BORING that India would be. It was tolerable for 90 minutes.

fatroony

I thought it was a fictional movie not a documentary on India.

Don't go and see Alien vs Predator, there are a couple of unrealistic scenes in that as well.

karuna

Yeah I do wonder how I've ended up defending a piece of lightweight Hollywood fluff.

If you like neurotic navel-gazing movies, you'll probably like it. If you think that kind of thing is boring and narcissistic, you probably won't.

There. I have pronounced judgement.

machadinha

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