“Train Dreams,” a lyrical drama about a logger whose work developing America’s railroad keeps him laboring in isolation, has sold to Netflix. The film earned rave reviews after debuting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, with Variety’s Peter Debruge calling it a “modest monument” and praising it for “creating a record that history somehow missed.”
Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones star in “Train Dreams,” which is adapted from Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella. Clint Bentley, who oversaw the 2021 Sundance drama “Jockey,” directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Greg Kwedar. The two recently collaborated on the Oscar-nominated script for “Sing Sing.” Kerry Condon, William H. Macy and Clifton Collins Jr., who starred in “Jockey,” round out the cast of “Train Dreams.”
“Train Dreams” was fully financed by Black Bear, the production company which also funded “Sing Sing,” so this project extends their relationship with the filmmakers. Black Bear and Kamala Films produced the film with Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, Will Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer and Michael Heimler serving as producers.
It’s been a sluggish market at Sundance, but things are starting to heat up. “Together,” a gory body horror film with Dave Franco and Alison Brie, sold to Neon for $17 million and several other titles are drawing interest from buyers. But some indie studios seem wary of overpaying for movies that, while artistically stirring, lack commercial viability, particularly with the box office in a rut.
“Train Dreams,” however, is believed to have awards potential. In his review, Variety‘s Debruge said the film was reminiscent of the work of Terrence Malick. “Bentley does for the Pacific Northwest what ‘Days of Heaven’ did for the Texas Panhandle,” he wrote. “Just because Malick’s influence can be felt does not mean that Bentley hasn’t found his own vocabulary to tell [this] story.”
WME Independent represented the filmmakers in the sale.
From Variety US