Prepare to be transported! Maciej Drygas' documentary, Trains, isn't just a film about locomotives; it's a poignant reflection on the 20th century itself, capturing both the exhilaration and the heartache of human experience. Through carefully curated archival footage, some never before seen, Drygas crafts a powerful narrative that resonates deeply.
Drygas, speaking with Deadline's Matt Carey at the Contenders Documentary event, shared his vision: "My hope for this movie is that this will build up into a kind of a parable about the 20th century." He emphasizes the film's relevance to contemporary events, highlighting the duality of the train journey: "The fact that this journey can be a joy and a curse at the same time is very relevant.”
The film's strength lies in its visual storytelling. Drygas masterfully juxtaposes scenes of joyous travel with the somber realities of war, showcasing the locomotive's role in both. He recalls, "I think the very first time people started moving from place to place using trains was something very joyful and hopeful about this. Then the next thing you know, there are soldiers boarding those cars and going to the front lines."
But here's where it gets controversial... Drygas's discovery of war footage in private collections adds another layer of depth to the film. He recounts, "For instance, there is a sequence in which we see German soldiers being sent to the front lines. These are materials actually shot by amateur soldier filmmakers." This raw, unfiltered perspective provides a stark contrast to the earlier scenes of optimism.
Initially, Drygas envisioned Trains with narration, drawing from writings about trains. However, the editing process led him to a bold decision. "When we started the actual editing work, I realized that maybe this verbal commentary is not at all necessary," he explains. "Those materials are eloquent enough to tell the story through visuals." And this is the part most people miss... This choice, to let the visuals speak for themselves, required courage, resulting in a nearly two-hour film devoid of spoken words, yet rich in meaning.
The film's sound design, led by Saulius Urbanavicius, is equally crucial. Drygas's collaboration with Urbanavicius is particularly striking in the sequence depicting the horrors of concentration camps. "The sequence that I sent him was this scene when we see dead bodies in the cattle cars in the concentration camp,” Drygas says. “My request for Saulius was to build silence, but silence that contains a lot of different sounds.”
Drygas even went to the extent of providing Urbanavicius with a recording of his own heartbeat. This personal touch is subtly woven into the sequence depicting the birth of the locomotive. "During one of my cardiology appointments, I actually recorded the sound of my heart beating,” Drygas reveals. “It’s barely, barely perceivable, but this way I kind of put my stamp on it. I literally inserted my heart into this work.”
Trains promises to be a deeply moving cinematic experience, exploring the complex legacy of the locomotive.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe that visual storytelling can be more powerful than narration? How do you feel about the inclusion of potentially disturbing historical footage? Share your opinions in the comments below!
