Train Dreams ★★★★

Released: 7 November 2025

Director: Clint Bentley

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, William H. Macy, Kerry Condon

Train Dreams is many things: a character study, a historical drama, an exploration of man’s relationship to his world. Adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella of the same name, the film follows Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), an ordinary working-class American who lives an ordinary life, for over half a century. As a logger and railroad labourer, he contributes to westward expansion as well as deforestation; he’s also the sole provider for his family, but he spends most of his time away from home. On one of his first jobs, he witnesses a Chinese man being murdered – and isn’t able to stop it. Guilt follows Grainier like a black cloud as he waits for karma to strike. Then, it does.

Director Clint Bentley, co-writer Greg Kwedar and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso deliver a film that’s meditative yet immersive, recounting a tale – via narration by Will Patton, no less – that was typical of life at the turn of the 20^th century, when humanity and nature were more intertwined. The camera treats the environment as its own character, following each tree as it falls. Imagery is further emphasised by the lack of dialogue; Grainier is a stoic figure, and Edgerton captures his psyche with skilful grace. While he’s reserved, he’s also raw, plagued simultaneously by grief and hope.

Bentley and Kwedar expertly weave dreams, memories and harsh realities, giving the film a quality that’s both mythical and mundane. The audience feels as if they’re there, too – inside Grainier’s cosy cabin, by the crackling fire, on a train or in a plane. The film plays with perspective yet remains focused on Grainier, following him through the highs and lows of life – from before he meets Gladys (Felicity Jones) until long after she’s gone. The result is an unadulterated portrait of a man who went from dreaming about the future to clinging to the past. This makes the film’s final sequence – in which Grainier takes flight above the forest – all the more poignant; he sees the world with fresh eyes, enabled by industrial progress.

It’s an impressive turn from all those involved, especially Edgerton. While it’s largely a silent role, he becomes Grainier through his expressiveness and lets his physicality do the talking. William H. Macy also shines in the supporting role of Peeples, a fellow labourer who Grainier encounters repeatedly while on the road. Together, they reflect on their lives in the logging industry and the demands – both physical and emotional – of their chosen existence.

Train Dreams transports its viewer back in time, offering a window into a more rustic and far less comfortable way of life. A welcome addition to Bentley’s filmography, Train Dreams is a timely one, too; as we undergo constant technological advancement, we’re reminded to consider the ethical and environmental implications of progress. More than that, it urges us to consider our purpose, big or small – and to not give up on life when all seems lost.