Movie: Transsiberian

As this is intended to be a travel-related blog, I thought, why not write about some movies as well? Now, I’m not thinking about some old boring documentaries, but there’s actually quite a lot of movies out there involving traveling in one way or another. The first one I will write about; Transsiberian.

Movie poster

Transsiberian is a 2008 neo-noir thriller film directed by Brad Anderson, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and began its theatrical release on July 18, 2008 in New York City.

Written by Anderson and Will Conroy, the film stars Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega, Thomas Kretschmann, and Ben Kingsley. The film is set on the Trans-Siberian Railway and its Trans-Manchurian branch, which runs from China to Moscow. Filming began in December 2006 in Vilnius, Lithuania, with additional photography in Beijing and Russia.

Americans abroad. Roy and Jessie finished a volunteer stint in China. He loves trains, so they go home via the Trans-Siberia Express. There are strains in the relationship, including her past. They meet Carlos, a Spaniard, traveling with Abby, a young American. Carlos keeps close to Jessie, and when Roy is left behind and waits a day for the next train so he can catch up, Jessie and Carlos take a trip into the dead of winter to photograph a ruined church. Carlos may be running drugs, so, later, when Roy catches up and introduces Jessie to his new pal, an English speaking Russian narcotics detective, he’s the last person Jessie wants to see. Will the Siberian desolation be their undoing?

The journey home didn't go exactly as planned.

Although an American movie, shot in a film studio in Lithuania, the producers has managed to make an intriguing film that is sure to make your thoughts start rolling. How little needs to go wrong while you’re traveling, before you suddenly find yourself in a less than fun situation? You never know what those friendly faces you meet has planned…