Advantages of Travelling by Train

Bunuel meets Borat with the story telling structure of the Saragossa Manuscript. If one of those three hints triggers something, this might be a strange and bizarre ride for you into the realm of Spanish post surreal movie making. Interesting cinematography, but not entirely consistent.

This movie is very ambiguous, and it is up to the audience through the clues that the director is showing, to distinguish what is really happening and what is just a hallucination. Some instances are easy to spot, while others are quite difficult to detect. In fact one of the main narratives is involving borderline personality disorders such as schizophrenia and dissociative identity. The intricate narrative web is composed of stories that at first seem to be disconnected, but then eventually will join. I personally found it a bit challenging following certain threads. With that being said, the director managed to grab my undivided attention through the surreal cinematography. The lighting highlights really well the different contexts: dreamy when it comes to happy and carefree sequences, dark and gritty when there are tense moments. All these elements sparkled my curiosity to know more about the stories and their respective characters. The very last scene provides an open ending that allows the audience to give their own interpretation. I am not usually a fan of these kinds of conclusions, as I really want to see a film wrapping up and providing an actual resolution, but in this case, I think that it was made in a classy and polished way.

"Ventajas de Viajar en Tren" is treating some deep topics: serious mental disorders and abuses of different natures. Some sequences are very explicit. I usually do not have a problem with graphic content, but this time I have to say that I felt uncomfortable a few times because the portrayal of violence was plausible. The cast was phenomenal, particularly Pilar Castro who was able to convey a range of different emotions. I personally like when directors take risks and decide to make unconventional movies, with no fear of being honest and straightforward. This film would not have worked in any other way. My final rate is 7.5 out of 10.

An absolutely bonkers Gilliam-esque thriller set in Spain that tells the stories of various unsavoury and down right horrific characters which may or may not be the invention of a supposed madman.

The direction is wonderful (think Wes Anderson on a small budget after having a little taste of LSD), the acting is stellar and the entire movie plays out like a surreal, hypnotic yet massively intriguing Grimms Brothers fairy tale. It is darkly humourous, massively entertaining and well worth a watch.

Unlike last year, there has not been an abundance of stellar foreign language movies released in the UK thus far, bar Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, but this offering really does remind you why Spanish cinema is gradually overtaking France as the best in Europe.

Highly recommended.

If left-of-center surrealist filmmakers such as Alejandro Jodorowsky ("El Topo", "The Holy Mountain"), Werner Herzog ("Even Dwarves Started Small"), David Lynch ("Eraserhead"), Luis Bunuel ("Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie", "Un Chien Andalou", "The Exterminating Angel") appeal to you, then you'd have no problem welcoming "Adventures Of Travelling By Train" to your collection. If, like me, extremely wordy films with dozens of characters and scenarios bother you, tick off a star or two. Without a doubt, the three related stories presented sit squarely in the Theatre Of The Absurd. View at your own risk.

Probably one of the best Spanish films in the decade in my humble opinion. These twisted stories are much more than that: a fantastic hyperbolic metaphor of a toxic, claustophobic relationship, a Proust-like character's vision of the world, a reflection on fiction itself... All of it wrapped up in very dark humour and some quite shocking scenes. The aforementioned scenes might put off some viewers and I can absolutely understand. Having said that, we might have said the same thing about OEdipus' parricide, incest and self-mutilation and passed on a great story. Thank God we didn't, and I hope most viewers will give this fresh take on narration a chance.