Night Train to Lisbon: A Journey Through Time and Memory

Okay, sit down my friends, grab a fika, and let’s talk about this curious little film, “Night Train to Lisbon.” Directed by Bille August—yes, the mastermind behind “Pelle the Conqueror”—this movie, starring Jeremy Irons, Mélanie Laurent, and Charlotte Rampling, is like opening a long-forgotten book at a dusty Loppis.

While watching, I couldn’t help but get a flashback. You know, like that time I accidently took the wrong bus in Göteborg and ended up somewhere in the archipelago… instead of the concert! Felt a bit like that – you embark on one journey and end up elsewhere, but realize the detour was the real adventure.

Irons plays Raimund, a somewhat stuffy Swiss professor, whose unexpected meeting with a mysterious woman and her abandoned book leads him on a train ride to Lisbon. And there’s something alluring about Lisbon, like a melancholic melody that refuses to leave your mind… the cobblestone streets, the fading postcards of a city living on memories. Makes me wanna book a spontaneous trip!

There were moments, though, where I was thinking, “Is this scene gonna wrap up or what?” Some dialogues drag a bit, like a Swedish winter when you’re eagerly waiting for that first smell of spring. But when it hits, it feels fresh and rewarding.

The film tries to weave between timelines and it works… mostly. The aesthetics are sort of a visual smorgasbord, rich but at times overwhelming. But the performances, oh boy! Irons was phenomenal, stays in your mind like the taste of a perfect köttbullar with lingonberry.

Sure, the film didn’t always know what pace to take. Like when you’re following a recipe and realise halfway you’ve missed an ingredient. But oh, the themes of love, regret, and rediscovery? Those are universal. We’ve all got a “what if” moment tucked away somewhere. Maybe “Night Train to Lisbon” nudges us to take our own detoured train, just once.

Check the trailer below