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It's hard not to fall in love with the strange and poetic shots in the films of American director and producer Wes Anderson. His filmmaking style is characterized by Art Nouveau color palettes, flat compositions, wide-angle shots, symmetry, and distinctive architectural ornamentation. Therefore, when Belmond received the invitation to design the interior of a train carriage for a vintage 1950s British Pullman train, the filmmaker created "a very Wes Anderson work."
The original carriage was designed with a Cygnus constellation theme in the style of the 1950s. Greek mythology tells that Zeus was once infatuated with the Spartan queen Leda, but fearing his wife's jealousy, Zeus transformed Leda into a swan so they could be together. Later, they had two children (the Gemini constellation), and Zeus named a constellation in the sky Cygnus to commemorate their love.
When Cygnus is mentioned, the image that immediately comes to mind is that of a swan spreading its wings and flying. Wes Anderson has preserved many of the classic charms of this brightest constellation in the summer night sky. The image of the swan can be found in almost every detail, from the shimmering silver leaf adorning the ceiling to the champagne cooler and the swan motif on the porcelain plate – swans are everywhere.
He respected the original design of the Cygnus train car, but added his own cinematic magic: the pink ceiling perfectly complemented the green fabric-upholstered seats, and the wood-inlaid corners stood out against the brass chassis. Everything was bold, yet subtle. Highly detailed, but not overwhelming. All blended harmoniously within the train car, creating a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.
Anderson shared: "I love trains! I often have the opportunity to fictionalize train compartments and carriages in my films, so I was very excited to create something new in real life. This is also an opportunity to contribute to the Belmond Group's efforts to preserve vintage trains. They are preserving something special, a type of travel that is fading away, but is very relevant to our time."
On the website ofBelmondFor those who dream of traveling on the train, there are options like pre-booking a mysterious lunch inspired by Murder on the Orient Express, a romantic luxury dinner by the window, or simply enjoying a magical journey through southern England on the railway tracks. Tickets cost around $790 per person (approximately 18 million VND) in the dining car and around $3,530 (approximately 82.5 million VND) for a private compartment accommodating up to four people.
The train's inaugural journey departed on October 13th, carrying the cast and guests to the premiere of Wes Anderson's latest film.The French Dispatch.
From a vintage train carriage of the Belmond British PullmanWhen you go to Darjeeling Limited, do you find any similarities?
