Behind the Scenes with ‘Train Dreams’: How Director Clint Bentley, DP Adolpho Veloso, and Composer Bryce Dessner Worked with Nature to Bring the Film to Life
Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella Train Dreams, though brief and presented as a stream of consciousness, profoundly explores the challenges faced by early 20th-century loggers and railroad workers in the Pacific Northwest. Producers Ashley Schlaifer, Will Janowitz, and Marissa McMahon recognized its cinematic potential and spent considerable time searching for a suitable director. Their collaboration with Clint Bentley, known for his feature debut, Jockey, led to an adaptation effort with co-writer Greg Kweder.
For Bentley, Train Dreams holds special significance, being one of his favorite novels. His dedication to the source material is evident in his decision to film nearly 99% of the production in natural light, allowing natural elements such as sunsets, forest fires, and fierce winds to serve as integral components of the story. Set in an era when people were more in tune with their natural surroundings, the film captures the essence of that time.
“In that small container, you feel an entire life … watching time go by,” Bentley shared. “Being able to deal with dreams and memories within the context of a story felt like a good container for things that I wanted to explore with the film: grief and time passing and love and all these bigger things.”
Interestingly, actor Joel Edgerton, who stars in and produces Train Dreams, initially attempted to acquire the rights independently. “He attached himself before we had any financing or anything and really took a leap of faith on the project,” Bentley explained. Critics have praised Edgerton’s portrayal of Robert Grainer, a rugged but empathetic logger and railroad worker. His performance seamlessly captures the character’s resilience as he builds a family against the backdrop of a developing America.
Bentley discovered the work of cinematographer Veloso while viewing the documentary On Yoga: The Architecture of Peace. “He was going into these caves in the mountains in Nepal or India, and it was just him and a camera and a fire,” Bentley recalled. “Yet these scenes looked like Caravaggio paintings.” This visual sensitivity informed Bentley’s approach to capturing the dawn scenes in Train Dreams. Complementing the visuals, composer Dessner’s score, featuring strings, piano, and woodwinds, evokes the calming sounds of nature, akin to a serene stream.
Train Dreams had its world premiere at Sundance a year ago, where Netflix acquired the film for a significant sum. It currently holds a 95% approval rating from critics and a 90% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has earned Oscar shortlists for Cinematography, Original Score, and the original song “Train Dreams,” co-written and performed by Nick Cave. It also won Best Cinematography at the Critics Choice Awards and is nominated for four Indie Spirit Awards, as well as two Golden Globes, including Best Song and Best Male Actor Motion Picture Drama for Edgerton.
