As the Whitman brothers change their minds about returning home and instead chase after a train, a tracking shot cuts through its walls to show each of the film's minor characters (and some who have hitherto remained offscreen) have suddenly materialised in neighbouring carriages. And so we have the businessman (Bill Murray) who had narrowly missed The Darjeeling Limited in the opening sequence, the train's chief steward holding the confiscated cobra, the children in the village, Rita staring sadly into space, Peter's wife Alice in her New York apartment, Jack's ex-girlfriend back in the Hotel Chevalier, Brendan relaxing on a plane, and not forgetting the man-eating tiger in the Himalayan convent - all given their own carriage. Just as they had spent the film trapped in the brothers' thoughts, so here they are hermetically sealed in their own space in time. It's a fitting conclusion, neatly tying together the film's loose ends while providing the film's cinematic highlight.
Yorkshireman (hence the surname). Often spotted sacrificing sleep and sanity for the annual Leeds International Film Festival. For a sample of (fairly) recent film reviews, please visit whatsnottoblog.wordpress.com.
