“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 a 2011 novella by Denis Johnson. Clint Bentley, who oversaw the 2021 drama, “Jockey,” which also premiered at Sundance, directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Greg Kwedar. The two recently co-wrote the script for “Sing Sing,” earning an Oscar nomination. Kerry Condon, William H. Macy and Clifton Collins Jr., who starred in “Jockey,” round out the cast.
Producers include Kamala Films’ Marissa McMahon and Ashley Schlaifer, and Will Janowitz, and Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler of Black Bear.
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Black Bear also fully financed “Sing Sing,” so “Train Dreams” extends their relationship with the filmmakers.
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 films are drawing interest from buyers. But some indie studios seem wary of overpaying for films 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. Before adding, “Just because Malick’s influence can be felt does not mean that Bentley hasn’t found his own vocabulary to tell [this] story.”
WME represented the filmmakers in the sale.