Advantages of Travelling by Train

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.

I don't know even if i liked it!

This is a dark comedy/psychological drama thriller. A definition of weirdness. Bizarre, creepy, some hilarious moments, some frightening moments. Excellent acting, also well directed.

But, in my opinion, it is not as clever as the creators think it is. It is not mind blowing, neither it makes much sense. Some metaphors may make sense (abusive relationships at the second part) but overall, this is surrealistic, like a modern fairy tale where Logic and laws of physics don't apply. Like a Kafka's dream.

If that was the intention, it is still enjoyable and interesting even though I would prefer it more cohesive.

In any case, the ending is not good. That is a twist for the sake of twists. And it didn't mean anything, just something irrational, i think it's lazy writing.

If you like your movies to be absurd, watch it for sure.

Travelling on a train, you might get someone who is ... let's say interesting. Than again, maybe you are also very interesting yourself. So this movie that is assembled of many parts and seems detached from each other, is actually very much connected. But if you've seen more than one movie, you can assemble that yourself.

What you may not be able to decode, is the connections. And while you can spend your time guessing, you can also just enjoy the mayhem and madness that occurs. There are many dark moments amongst the very fun and light moments. This mixture may not be to your taste, but the movie does that balancing act quite nicely. The tone is tough to acoomplish, but if you yourself are not too sensible, the movie will achieve satisfying your needs ... which may be even in a weird way. Again not judging one way or the other. Sick humor and some depraved things aside, this really is tension filled ... with an ending that you may guess in a way ... but that still is spot on - even if you may not know what it actually means (you can decide that for yourself)

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.

Different people's lives with hidden connections to each other Sinister characters of a troubled mind or real ones?