In Transit

Direct Cinemapioneer Albert Maysles died in March 2015 at 88. He and his brother David, who predeceased him, left a treasure trove of iconic documentaries such as (1970), (1968) and most recently , which screened at IDFA in 2014. is the final addition to Maysles’s rich filmography. A collective of five directors filmed passengers onboard the much-used Empire Builder train that connects Chicago to Seattle. The makers employed small cameras and inconspicuous sound equipment and relied on natural lighting. This results in snippets of accidentally overheard conversation, in-depth interviews with passengers and wordless observations. Maysles and the others paint a loving, almost timeless picture of America. Children play in the carriages, the conductor reminisces about his youth in a village along the railway and an extremely pregnant woman hopes she won’t give birth onboard. Spending days on the train creates a temporary, mini-society. It’s the perfect place for revelations and reflection. Outside, the endless prairies, majestic mountains, snow-covered oil fields and cities glide by. Inside, everyone is in transit: on their way to new jobs, lovers, insights and lives.