Train Dreams, from the Sing Sing duo of Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, keeps chugging along toward its November release. On Wednesday, Netflix unveiled the official trailer for the uniquely American saga starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon and William H. Macy.
The pic, adapted from Denis Johnson’s 2002 short story (later published as a novella) of the same name, was acquired by the streamer after its Sundance Film Festival debut, and just played TIFF. It hits theaters November 7 before bowing on Netflix on November 21.
Edgerton plays Robert Grainier, a railroad worker and logger working in the early 20th century Pacific Northwest who “leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty” amid tragedy in a rapidly changing America (“It all going by so fast,” Jones’ Gladys tells her husband).
The trailer features stunning visuals of forests and mountain vistas, with massive trees that stay majestic even when they are being chopped down. The dialogue seems quiet, as if to let the sounds of nature take the main speaking parts.
“This is rough work, gentlemen, not just on the body,” Macy’s Arn Peeples tells his crew. “We just cut down trees that have been here for 500 years. That touches a man’s soul whether you recognize it or not.”
Bentley directed Train Dreams, and adapted the screenplay with Kwedar. The pair are coming off the Kwedar-directed Sing Sing, another Netflix pic, which picked up three Oscar nominations last year including for Kwedar and Bentley’s adapted screenplay.
Check out the Train Dreams trailer above.