TRANSSIBERIAN
US, 2007, 115 minutes, Colour.
Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Eduardo Noriega, Katie Mara, Thomas Kretschman.
Directed by Brad Anderson.
Transsiberian is an action story on the Transsiberian Railway, from China on its way through Siberia to Moscow.
The film is directed by Brad Anderson, an independent director with such films as Wonderland with Hope Davis, The Machinist with Christian Bale. As with this film, he makes international productions getting money from a wide range of sources.
The scenery is exotic. The film shows the life on the train. It also introduces us to drug dealers, corrupt police, and culminates in a melodramatic showdown.
Woody Harrelson acts somewhat against type as a rather more timid hardware salesman who has done some missionary work in China. Emily Mortimer is his wife, formerly a drug addict but supported by her husband in her change for the better. Eduardo Noriega, well known from Spanish and Argentinean films, is Carlos the Spanish dealer and Katie Mara is his companion. Ben Kingsley portrays a Russian policeman – who is revealed to be the villain of the piece.
The film spends some time exploring its characters and their relationships, creating what seemed to be rather adventurous situations during the travel, culminating then in violence, and the timid American having to make a stance.
1. An exotic thriller, Siberia and Russia, the train, the tradition of thrillers on trains? Drug dealing in the 21st century? Police and corruption?
2. China, the missionary work, Roy and Jessie and their presence, contribution? Jessie’s first time to lend a hand for others? Roy and his being devout? On the train, settling in, the border? Siberia and its beauty? The interiors of the trains? The stations, forests, the churches? The musical score?
3. The explanation of the trans-Siberian journey, its length, days? The experience? Russia in the 21st century?
4. The introduction to Roy and Jessie, at the mission, the visionary speech? His being a hardware store manager, the story of his meeting with Jessie, the car crash, her alcoholism and drugs, her being off alcohol? Telling Abby about her past? Her being a photographer? The range of photos? Roy, pleasant, extroverted? The discussions with the Russians on the train and the memories of the past, the poet from the gulag? The difficulties with their marriage, the trip and the possibility of solving problems? On the train, their cabin, the detail, the guard and her refusal to understand, fix the toilet…?
5. The introduction to Carlos and Abby, their explanations of their lives, Japan, teaching English? Their personalities? Abby, from Seattle, not having a home, not settling down? Carlos, Spain? Their being roommates? Jessie and her friendship to Abby? Roy and his friendship with Carlos? The discussion about passports? Explaining the Russian dolls, the drugs? The company?
6. The introduction to Inspector Glinko? The dead man, the police, the drug traffic, the pursuit, Glinko taking the journey, in the compartment with Roy and Jessie, talking with them, asking questions? Concern about Carlos? The inspector, confrontation with Glinko? Roy and Jessie trying to get rid of the drugs, Jessie and bashing the dolls, the window stuck, the door? Explaining to Glinko? Roy and the trick, his being held, Jessie and her attempts to rescue him? The confrontation with Glinko, death? Glinko’s explanation of life in Russia, his son, the Russian past, the lack of opportunity, his motivation for his behaviour?
7. Roy and his interest in dreams, with Carlos, being left behind, Jessie’s anxiety, the phone calls, being reunited? Glinko and the drugs? Telling Glinko? The quiet man having to experience violence, traps? Conquering? The hardship, torture, the physicality of his experience and suffering?
8. Jessie and Carlos, the walk, the snow, forest, taking the photos, the church, Carlos’s advances, Jessie’s response, reaction, moving away, Carlos’s pursuit, her killing him? Glinko using this?
9. The Russian police, their investigations? The culmination and climax in melodrama and action?
1. The title, expectations, trains, tradition of railways, significant continental journeys, the countries passed through?
2. A drama, shifting to melodrama and action? Tensions, the confinement to action on the train, getting on and off? Musical score?
3. The international cast and its effect?
4. Vladivostok and Beijing, the route, China and Siberia, the Russian towns, the railway stations, hotels, the country bus, the countryside, the snow and the ruined church?
5. Russia, harsh, the irritable attendant, angers, toilets not working, grubby motels, less than comfortable, especially for Americans?
6. The introduction, Ilya and the local police, his role? Issues of drugs, transport, the drug investigation department? Gangs and their bosses, permits for the passing through of drugs or along the length of Russia? Ilya as a person, 58, his grief about his son, allegedly travelling to the conference?
7. Beijing, the missionaries, Americans in China, building, the preacher, praising the group for their success and education, Roy and Jessie, or his eagerness to take the train ride? Their marriage, love, difficulties together?
8. On the train, the toilet not working, the bunks, the cranky attendant? Finding Abbie and Carlos? Friendliness but tension, the meals, the talk, the drinking?
9. The background stories, Rory and his work in the shop, hardware? Jessie and her opting out, the drugs, rehabilitation, drinking and crashes? Abbie and her teaching English in Japan, wandering, not having a home? Carlos and his enigmatic presence?
10. The stop, Roy going to look at the trains, Carlos leaving him behind? Jessie and anxiety? Getting off the train, going to the hotel, the phone calls back, Carlos coming for the shower, his explanation of the Russian dolls, shifting them to Jessie’s case? The delay, the bus trip, the ruins of the church, photos, Jessie’s delight, photographing Carlos, his aggressive sexual attack, her beating him, killing him, leaving him? Her anxiety, going back on the bus to meet
Roy?
11. Meeting Ilya and his assistant, friendliness, talking, interrogations? Jessie, nervousness, trying to get rid of the drugs, opening the door, her being pulled in by the attendant? Her lies and no going back? The discovery of the drugs, walking with Ilya and his carrying the bag? His looking through the photos, the preventing him from seeing Carlos, deleting all the photos?
12. In the train, the few carriages, almost falling out the back? Jessie and Roy being confined?
13. Off the train, the basement and the vast plant? Finding Abbie and her being tortured? The interrogation, Jessie not telling the truth, Roy and Jessie escaping?
14. The pursuit, Roy using his wits, Ilya and his friend, the control over Ilya? The issue of the drug boss and his expectations? Roy, getting on the train, trying to get it moving, the crash, Ilya shooting the associate, saving himself? The police arriving, Ilyia and his authority?
15. Jessie agency Abbie in hospital, telling her about the money? The visuals of Abbie in the snow, finding Carlos’s body, finding the money – and the prospect of her buying the house on the lake?
16. Happy ending after all that Roy and Jessie had been through?
