Tittle : Man on The Train (L Homme du train)
Directed by : Patrice Leconte
Actor : Jean Rochefort and Johnny Hallyday
When u’re looking for poem in a film, maybe close to Dead Poem Society, then u’ve to take a look to this movie. Man on The Train is beautifully touching French’s film that reveals the hidden passion of a man, while he has what so called second change. French’s films is kinda beautifull ones which kill u slowly.
Its beginning with a train. Fast scenery from a moving window, and sound of iron tire on a massive reel collecting a distant mysterious sound. When a man called Milan (Johnny Hallyday) was disembarking from a train in a quiet lonely town, he meet a local people named Manesquier (Jean Rochefort). The ordinary good Manesquier refer his new friend place to stay in his house. Hotel was closed due to lack of tourist in November.
They basically were two different kind of men. Milan tended to silent, not to ask question and a traveler. His purpose in that small town was to robe its local bank. On the contrary, Manesquier was talkative and conservative indeed. He is an old retired poetry teacher. A man with his daily life : read a book, play piano and shopping a bread at near store.
Their interaction is the main part of this movie. One shared their experience to other. Milan learnt to like poems and rode a book. He enjoyed settling in Manesquier’s big old 18th century house. While the owner had his ‘wild guy conversation’ has well responded by his guest. His ambition was to be a bad guy sometimes. Something to break his routine life. To explore different continents and never drop the anchor.
He knew then, Milan was a robber, but instead of drive out his guess, he liked and offered some help : a strange old politeness. And Milan knew how to thank, how to learn an ordinary life. They both shared their long awaited passions and dreams.
One beautifull poem from this movie which became a main narative to its audience (maybe like “Pecahkan saja gelasnya..” in AADC), I listed below.
“On the Poun Neuf, I met
Who sings the distant song?
A badly anchored barge
Or the samartaine metro shop
On the Poun Neuf, I met
No dog, no stick, no sign
Pity on those in despair
That the crowd turns aside from
On the Poun Neuf, I met
Sitting on the worn stones
The air that I murmured
The dream thas was my light”
The climax was the day that Malin robed the bank with his small team. At the same time Manesquier had his operations (maybe his lungs problem, coz it wasn’t clearly mentioned in the movie). Because of betrayal, then several snipers had shot Malin badly coz they had been ready before. Manesquier was also failed in his operation. But they both had their second change. They remained alive magically. Pictures was changing from one to another in same sequence for showing how their actually connected in death yet but being born again.
After Malin free from local jail, he was waited by his old Manesquier at the outside. His house’s key gaved to Malin and he started his long awaited journey in silent. Then Malin stayed in his house, learnt to play piano. Their life had started again in difference way. (But, maybe the director forgot that their appearance is still the same as they met before for I thinking about a long time in prison may change what their looks like)
It’s an intense quiet film. Patrice understood how to show this simple and strange friendship in symbolic frames : empty street, blue pictures, frequently train sound and cold November wind. Not too much actor and heavy dialogue. Maybe that’s the power of this film that bring two audience award in Venice Film Festival (2003) for Best Picture and Best Actor (acclaimed French Actor Jean Rochefort).
Im looking forward to another poetry movie. *anyone?*
Bangku Mahoni 
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