Plot Summary – After the death of their father, three brothers set out on a train journey across India, in an attempt to rediscover their lost bond. The experiences that they have force them to introspect.

★★★★★ 

Watched 19 Feb, 2021

I’ve avoided reviewing Wes’ work so far in this binge because I was a) afraid I couldn’t do it justice with my words and b) the way the films made me feel was quite hard to articulate. But I think this film has inspired the inner writer in me and the fact that my film friends like this film A LOT, I feel like this one should be the one I review. The Darjeeling Limited is one of the most breathtaking and phenomenal films I have ever watched. If I was on the fence before this film, this has made me a certified Wes Anderson fan. The way he helms this film is so incredible, you can see the maturity in his craft at this point in his career. Also as an Indian, I am an absolute SIMP for this film’s aesthetic and cultural choices. I heard some non-Indian people call it ‘problematic’ and ‘casually racist’ but as an Indian, I honestly didn’t find anything remotely offensive in this film. What I did find is the incredible attention to detail from Anderson. In this one scene, there are Mantras being chanted by a priest and those are literally the mantras I say everyday when I pray to god. Moments like that touched me on such a deep, personal level. I feel like if I rewatch this, it could become one of my all-time favourites although its not there yet. The acting by our three leads is fantastic as they embody their characters. I will never stop being in awe of Andrien Brody in this film. The score and soundtrack is also so encapsulating as it incorporates elements of classic Indian director’s like Satyajit Ray’s scores into it, giving it a real Indian texture. The inherent themes and message of the film are also so well delivered and I genuinely found myself in awe throughout the film. If you’re looking for a true cinematic experience, watch The Darjeeling Limited.