In Transit

The Empire Builder train runs from Chicago to Seattle, linking the Eastern and Western United States via a nearly three-day trip. New passengers embark at each station and start up conversations in spite of themselves; they discuss their plans, share their dreams, and talk about frustrations to mold a menagerie of souls in suspended animation, for whom the journey is a moment of respite. Director Albert Maysles, the purveyor of direct cinema, avoids monotony by interweaving serious sequences with playful sections. The train's crew is cast in a special role akin to a Greek choir commenting the plot. The American documentary filmmaker and his crew imbue their cinematic observations with intimacy. Despite these formal devices, Maysles works to stay true to the method he honed over the years. Don't expect any auteur commentary or directorial interference - you get the world, such as it is. But is that actually possible? Eric Kohn wrote in IndieWire, "Maysles may never appear on camera but the feeling of his presence is palpable. (…) Magnifying ordinary people by turning their internal processes into objects of fascination, "In Transit" epitomizes the Maysles legacy" and isthe final film by the recently deceased acclaimed American documentary filmmaker.