Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train (1998)

Patrice Chereau, the acclaimed French director of opera and theater, follows his grand period drama Queen Margot with this gorgeous but jagged portrait of dysfunctional adults and broken relationships in contemporary Paris. A group of old acquaintances whose friendships have become strained over the years reunite for the funeral of their mentor. Chereau drops us in the midst of things from the opening moments, leaving us to sort out the layered editing and rich soundtrack while catching up with a story that keeps leaping forward. The widescreen film is shot with a handheld camera, and the jittery, nervous energy and abrupt editing wind up the already tense atmosphere. But even as Chereau eases up from the uncomfortably in-your-face intimacy of the claustrophobic opening scenes on the train, emotions ooze like open wounds and unresolved conflicts bubble over. Former French idol Jean-Louis Trintignant, who has aged into an awesomely understated performer and a fascinating screen presence, leads a cast of edgy young actors, including Queen Margot stars Vincent Perez (as a depressed transsexual) and Pascal Greggory (as the group's tentative spokesman). It's a sharp, intelligent, restless film that recalls such recent French dramas as Late August, Early September and My Sex Life (or How I Got into an Argument). It doesn't offer any clear story or easy resolution, just a messy but potent portrait of the crossed lives of adults still looking for themselves. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

An intimate portrait!

A prominent ad charismatic artist dies and so, around his imminent funeral, friends and lovers of him will travel by train through the French countryside. The grief - that potent catalyst - will unite them in order to rediscover the almost forgotten emotional bonds that remain inside them, even if they quarrel or coincide one each other.

The journey by itself is a lovable metaphor that reaffirms the human condition and rejoin us with the life, to prove the art goes far beyond the mere aesthetic concept of the creative act.

One of these unforgettable movies that will endure in your memory, once you have left the hall.
August 23, 2007

This film is strangely Robert "Altmanish" in texture and characterization

Some loved it, some hated it. I heard strong comments on both sides. "Can't understand anything, too complicated" I must agree that it is complicated, but worth it. At some times, it is hard to recognize the characters and their background (there are many characters and the intrigue unveils itself very slowly), but the movie deals with strong emotions. Mainly, it shows everybody's need to feel recognized by those they love and the competition they go through to get more love and attention.
The shots on board the train were well done; there was a good sense of movement all through. Even after the funeral - and no trains, this was sustained.

I was amused at Jean-Batiste's desire for everyone who loved him to go by train, but his coffin to be transported by car - and did have to ask if those who came to the funeral by car did it from lack of love for the dear departed or from geographical necessity. I enjoyed this film more than I expected to; it was well paced, the characters were compelling, if not exactly your average circle of family and friends.

The standard of acting was generally very good. I feel this film justifies watching more than once, if only to sort out who's who and where they fit together, but, from first viewing, plenty of life, despite being based round a death.
January 22, 2006

Brilliant

Chereau's characters brim with individuality and sincerity. While seldom seeing more than the surface of a first impression, as happens in life, each character is defined exquisitely and in depth within a moment of their first appearance. This sounds contradictory, but an examination of real life and our interactions would probably reveal this to be true.We are invited to observe an interacting group of self absorbed individuals whose relationships intertwine like a symphonic work, full of glorious sparkling moments of humanity and somber reflective emotions, sexual intrigue, confrontations that do not exceed the realms of possibility and sympathetic individuals. This is a film which I am sure will reveal more and more understanding with repeated viewings. July 28, 2005

Very Interesting.

This movie is about the gathering of a variety of friends, ex-lovers, and family, for the funeral Of Jean-Babtiste. It is filled with every type of people, from a gay love triangle, to a man turned newly woman, to a failing marriage, etc etc etc... It is interesting, and well done...
But the subtitles are a little hard to read... January 26, 2005

one of the best french films I`ve seen in a long time

When reading some of the other reviews,I noticed a simmilar thread throughout,from the good and the bad, but basicly they all said it was hard to comprehend, but not to me. One thing that needs to be understood is that french movies do not follow the same format as American ones and if you can understand that, then watching any french movie will be alot more enjoyable. This movie shows a real slice of humanity being that the deceased was bisexual. There is a couple with a child, a marriage on the rocks, drug addiction, homosexuality,even a love triangle,as-well as a recent sexchange candidate.There are some older folks, one being the twin brother and a couple of teenagers.Someone said they thought there was a lesbian scene. There isn`t it`s just two friends, one being a natural women finding out another friend had a sex change and when asked to feel her boobs it was out of curiosoty. Most men don`t get a sex change to be with women it`s that simple.What ties all these people together is the funeral,all the relatives and friends embark on a train trip to another city where the deceased wished to be buried with one of them carrying the coffin in his station wagon along-side the train. rather humorous I thought. Each person had their own set of memories and mostly a love/hate relationship with that person, and it seems that no one was sure who he realy loved or hated.I think one thing that helped to tell the story is the soundtrack.It was great in my opinion, although I do agree with the subtitles being washed out at times, but I understand french so I wasn`t as bothered about it.If you have never realy known a gay man or couple then the love scene on the train would be shocking to you, however I thought it showed a desperaration between these charachters within their grief even though it was graphic compared with American standards, but it could have easily been heterosexual to me because I looked beyond the genders.I thought it was well done and touching and showed how people sometimes form an attraction under an emotional event such as a death.. I think the film is great.I think the acting is superb considering the complexity of all them,it`s sort of like a rich dessert that lingers long after the last bite. This movie is not for the timid or close-minded, but on second thoughts I think it`s a good look at who people are and that we did `nt all come from the same cotton field.If you are looking for a different movie for a change of pace this is it , like that rich dessert it leaves you wanting more. December 22, 2004

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