The Darjeeling Limited

Growing up with a brother whom I idolize and look up to my entire life, I’ve always had a soft spot for stories about the relationship between siblings. The Darjeeling Limited, with its emphasis on brotherly connections, brought me a new yet somewhat familiar experience that touched me deeply. Everything about the movie, from the plot and characters to the music and production design, clicked with me instantly. After my first encounter with this movie, Wes Anderson became one of my favorite living directors. His trademarked idiosyncrasies, including reversal representations of children and adults’ roles, choice of color palettes and awkward dialogues, made his movie a pleasure to watch and more importantly, allowed him to tell the story in a refreshing way.

The Darjeeling Limited is about three brothers who haven’t seen each other since their father’s funeral going on a journey through India to sort out the turmoils in their lives. Each of the three man had their own problems and flaws that kept them from maintainting healthy relationships with others in their lives, especially those who are close and dear to them. However, though their personal issues are different on the surface, at the core, these problems all stem from their grief over the lost of a loved one and their futile fight for the affection of a father who has long passed away. Placing great emphasis on healing and bonding. the movie shows how those in grief can overcome their suffering by releasing themselves from the shackle of the past and embracing their present lives and relationships.

The Darjeeling Limited is slightly melancholic but incredible funny and witty, making it’s easier for viewers to digest some of its darker parts. Every scence is so beautifully colorful and humorous, that it lightens the serious tone of the movie. The brothers went through streets that filled with exotic goods and animals. They visits temples that have exquisite decorations on the walls and the ceilings. We know that Francis has just survived a near death motorcycle accident, yet we don’t necessarily worry that much about his health. Even when his head and right hand are covered in bandages, we still feel like he’s probaly fine, given his energy, enthusiasm and determination in complete the trip. The brothers may argue constantly, but they never really break off from each other. Their situation is far from desirable, but it hasn’t reached a point of no return. The tension is there, but it’s presented in a way that make us feel less taut and more at ease, only to suddenly hit us with a series of surprisingly darker sences, throwing us off balance. We see a young boy dying in Peter’s arms, despiting his desperate attempt to save the boy. We see Francis taking off his bandages to show Peter and Jack the scars and half-healed wounds underneath. By doing this, the movie forces its characters to confront their fears and change for the better.

All in all, The Darjeeling Limited has all the makings of a great movie. Next time you need a new movie to enjoy, try it; then, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to discover such a gem.