Train Dreams Is a Vision of Hardscrabble Americana That’s Also Bracingly Modern

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Despite being a relatively new nation, the United States has caused a great deal of hardship throughout history. Perhaps the harsh realities of life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in the West, were a consequence of that. Many men died in dangerous jobs, and women faced the tragedies of childbirth or losing children – perhaps these were the inevitable results of ambition and the belief in a right to conquer and settle the land. Americans often idealize their ancestors, but it’s important to remember the full story. When we think about what defines the American spirit, we often picture resilient pioneers – the railroad builders, the lumberjacks, the women who managed homes and faced difficult realities with strength. However, we often overlook the darker side of their legacy, including the displacement and suffering they inflicted on others in pursuit of their goals.

Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams isn’t your typical nostalgic look at early 20th-century America. Adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella, this film, set in Idaho, doesn’t gloss over the hardships faced by those who built this country. Instead, it presents them as flawed but fundamentally human individuals just trying to survive and provide for their families. Joel Edgerton delivers a quietly powerful performance as Robert Grainier, an orphaned laborer who seems destined for solitude, until a remarkable woman takes the initiative and eventually becomes his wife around 1917. They build a simple life by a river, and Felicity Jones is fantastic as Gladys, a resourceful and capable woman who can seemingly do anything – from constructing intricate fish traps to managing the home and raising a child while Robert is away working. He drifts between jobs – building railroads, then logging – and Will Patton’s understated narration fills in the gaps, creating a beautifully melancholic portrait of a life lived on the edge.

Robert is often away from home for long periods, doing dangerous work. He finds camaraderie with his fellow workers, especially a grizzled explosives expert named Arn (played wonderfully by William H. Macy). Despite his hard work, Robert recognizes his privilege as a white man and is deeply disturbed when he witnesses his colleagues brutally punish a Chinese railroad worker. The man’s face and the surrounding landscape – beautiful shots of trees with starlight and endless tracks – stay with him, but offer no peace. He senses trouble ahead and values his time at home. Robert truly feels like himself when he’s with his wife, Gladys, and their baby, Kate. They watch Kate, fascinated as she focuses on a candle flame. Robert and Gladys enjoy their daughter with a quiet affection, a refreshing contrast to overly anxious parenting styles.

Robert’s hardships deeply shake his beliefs, but the film Train Dreams ultimately feels hopeful. The story doesn’t shy away from suffering; it portrays it as an integral part of life. While rooted in a classic American setting, the film feels surprisingly relevant today. Director Bentley, known for the excellent 2021 film Jockey, avoids flashy directing, letting the story and performances shine. Train Dreams is visually beautiful, with every detail of the natural world feeling vivid and alive, but it never feels excessive. Bentley’s strength lies in his actors, especially Joel Edgerton, who delivers a truly remarkable performance. Edgerton embodies a man weathered by life, yet stubbornly determined to keep going. His character, Robert Grainier, is a man left behind by time, but he perseveres with a quiet strength, even when giving up would be easier. He simply continues to live, and the world moves on after him. This reflects not just the harsh realities of American life, but the nature of existence itself. To capture all of that in a single film is a remarkable achievement.

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2025-11-22 01:06