What could be so special about the story of a wood logger from the early 20th century? Nothing, actually, but the beauty of the ordinariness and randomness of the story is what makes “Train Dreams” so spectacular.
“Train Dreams,” directed by Clint Bentley, is an adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella of the same name. Although the film was released on Nov. 7, 2025, it picked up buzz after being nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Picture. Featuring beautiful scenic shots of the Pacific Northwest, “Train Dreams” is also a story about the difficult task of overcoming loss and finding meaning in an ever-expanding world.
The film follows the life of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a laborer who is one of many contributing to America’s rapid industrialization at the turn of the 20th century. Loss follows Robert, from the death of his parents at a young age to the death of both his wife and daughter after a tragic fire. The film explores his grief and attempts to return to normalcy against the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing America.
The movie doesn’t have a traditional plot: there is no climax and no real resolution. Although some passive viewers might find this boring, the lack of a structured plot works in this film. The driving force of the plot is the passage of time, which emphasizes the movie’s message; each moment of Robert’s life–his long logging trips, his auditory hallucinations of his dead wife and kids’ voices–is a stab in the heart and also a reminder of the randomness of reality.
After the death of his family, Robert proceeds through life as a hermit. He doesn’t have any purpose, and all he can do is try to rebuild the life he once had. Edgerton does an incredible job depicting Robert’s grief and aimlessness, and the film would not be as compelling without his performance.
Before the death of his family, Robert is a wood logger, making long trips out into the sprawling forests of the Idaho Panhandle to cut down trees and build infrastructure. Although the characters feel like they are at the forefront of innovation as they alter the land, through conversations with the other loggers, Robert realizes that the forests have outlived humans and will continue to. The cinematography highlights this fact by making the characters appear small amidst the dense forest.
Instead of abiding by the traditional rule of thirds, cinematographer Adolpho Veloso places subjects on a quadrant grid, creating symmetry and emphasizing nature’s role in maintaining balance. The film was also shot in the aspect ratio 3:2, taller than most movies, which helps accentuate the landscape, especially when illustrating the isolation of the subject.
Additionally, the audio engineering and score are phenomenal, establishing the natural surroundings to ground the characters; every leaf crunch and tweeting of the birds is crisp and clear. The folk-inspired score is subtle, and while it gives characters space, it also shines during emotional moments of the film.
The end of the movie is marked by Robert’s trips to the big city, where each time he visits, there are new technologies to experience. In one of the final scenes, Robert flies a plane. While in the air, he looks down at the vast forests below and seems to understand that while he was once at the forefront of innovation, the world has now passed him by. This scene highlights the true purpose of “Train Dreams”: to remind us of the enormity of time and nature, and the beauty that comes with it. Although “Train Dreams” isn’t action-packed, it is still a worthwhile watch.
