Pioneering documentary film-maker Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter, and the list goes on from that stunning standpoint) died just last month. He has two films coming out posthumously, one being Iris, about Iris Apfel, the style maven with the enormous glasses, and In Transit (in which he worked with four other directors), about travel on the passenger train line The Empire Builder (a busy train route that goes across the American plains and into the Pacific Northwest.)
It’s playing at the Tribeca Film Festival, and it’s one of my favorite things I’ve seen thus far.
Still thinking about this movie a few days after reading your review. Since In Transit may or may not be released near me, it might be time for a rewatch of Grey Gardens. While cinema verite style, it felt like there was a strong undercurrent of affection in that movie for Big Edie and Little Edie.
Was there that same undertone during In Transit? You know I have a soft spot for the Midwest.
// it felt like there was a strong undercurrent of affection in that movie for Big Edie and Little Edie. //
Paula – I totally agree.
And yes, the same soft feeling is there in In Transit – people reveal their frailties and worries to the camera, and there’s this non-judgmental space of just BEING around all of it. In today’s world of reality TV, where the worst of humanity gets the most coverage, and you might think that people really were horrible narcissistic assholes – something like In Transit reminds you that no, life is not like that, people are people, and you just NEVER KNOW what might be going on with that stranger next to you.
On a train ride, especially one that lasts 3 days, the boundaries dissolve between strangers. There’s one great scene where a bunch of 20somethings, gather in the dining car at night, and one girl has a guitar and they all start singing. These people were not traveling together, they did not know each other before the train ride. They are from different walks of life – college students, oil workers, whatever. One shy guy approaches – and says, “Hi … can I sit with you guys?” Everyone’s like, “SURE!”, scooting over to make room for him.
May sound corny, but a film like In Transit reminds you that the world, while sometimes awful, can also be very very kind.
Sheila
“But there’s nothing like a train.” Yes, I agree, and this sounds wonderful! The great Albert Maysles! I was waiting for Iris but didn’t know about this and I want to see this too. I always feel happy on trains and I always remember those moments. Maybe also because I don’t travel that much by them and wish I could. I always want to go to LA by train, (but money and time factor in). Planes are just torture while being on a train feels like, well, this film! Love the quote by Keith Richards too (I also loved his book)
Regina – I always feel happy on trains too! I haven’t taken a long train ride in a very long time and In Transit made me yearn to do so. I’d like to actually take The Empire Builder, now that I know about it.
Have you heard about the Amtrak Writer’s Residency program? They just started it last year. I applied but I didn’t get it. I will apply again. You sit on a train for 5 days, set up in your own little cabin, and you can write in peace. You have to submit a proposal for what you want to work on. And you can take whatever route you like. It sounds like HEAVEN.