In general I think this movie is a case study examining a families attempt to cope with trauma. That being said I disagree with your analysis of the feathers. I believe that they are symbols of the brother’s pasts.

Metaphorically they want to be able to “bury the hatchet” and put their fathers death and mothers abandonment issues behind them.

Francis puts his feather under a rock. He ignores and tries to disregard the past. You can see this reflected in his behavior towards his brothers throughout the movie. Even in the opening scene he ignores their separation and emotional distance by plotting out this collective spiritual journey.

Additionally throughout the movie Francis’ behaves as though he isn’t seriously injured. I believe the audience is asked to examine the motives of his accident. Was it truly “an accident” or a suicidal cry for help?

Symbolically the bandages show that he is healing from deep wounds both physically and emotionally. It is only later in the airport that he can acknowledge and expose his wounds in the presence of his brothers.

Comparatively Jack holds his past close to his chest. He lets the past dictate his current actions. Jack is haunted by his mother’s constant abandonment. Due to this crippling fear of abandonment Jack masochistically seeks out women that he knows will leave him. Through sexual escapades Jack seizes control by vicariously responding to the women he is with as though they were his mother (as reflected by the opening vignette). He desperately wants to not care.

By far my favorite movie symbol involved Peter. He wears his father’s sunglasses which aren’t even his prescription. He blinds himself to the world by seeking to emulate his father because he is scared of being inadequate. He was powerless during his dad’s death which shook his confidence. He now doubts his abilities as a husband and a father himself. Although he tries to emulate his dad his behavior is more reflective of his flighty mother. One of my favorite scenes is on the bus just after the experience with the death of the small boy. Peter’s eyes are open and clear. It’s the only scene where he does not have an eye cover.

Wow, you nailed the purpose of the movie right on the head! A character study of family members who have gone through a trauma. And some may believe that they are acting absurdly, but it’s just human nature!

In general, Darjeeling Limited is definitely up there as one of the most complex movies I have ever seen. It really is symbolic of many things.

About the feather, I completely agree with your interpretation. As I stated previously, the feathers have multiple meanings. Each of the brothers lives were completely different. As you would expect, the way they deal with their feathers is different. I believe that the feathers deal with the past, present, and future.

In terms of the past: That is what you interpreted. The brothers coming to terms with the death of their father. They all deal with past trauma differently.

In terms of the present: What I wrote in my analysis: How they feel about the way their life is going at the moment. By burying the feather under a rock, he was in denial, as you stated. He just wanted to erase the past, on move on with his life the way it was before.

In terms of the future: The feathers can also represent where the brothers would like to go, and their respective rituals for the future.

The past/present/future are just 3 ways to analyze the feathers, but there are even more possibilities. What genius filmmaking!

Maybe the injury was a suicidal call for help? Again, it’s so open-ended. I really like your view on the injury, and I would definitely understand if it is a cry for help. He does seem to feel sorry for himself.

It’s a shame about Jack, though. He might be scarred for life, and unable to be in a stable relationship. Wow, that glasses symbol went over my head! Blinding yourself to the outside world by physically impairing your vision? Talk about a direct metaphor!

And the scene where the boy dies is very sad. Horrible as the event was, it gave Peter some clarity on his situation, and a realization that things weren’t so bad.

Thank you so much for your comment, I really appreciate your deep insights!
Josh Lipovetsky.

I don’t know if it was the intention of the writers, but for me, the lost train represents the essence of the film. If someone asks me to summarize the film, I would say; “Life is like a train, and sometimes even trains can get lost while still on their tracks.”

For Francis, surviving from the suicide attempt was the point where he stopped his train and studied the map in front of him.

Thanks for the insights, I’ve got a few of my own:

When the train gets lost I recall Francis repeating what Brendan says; “We can’t locate ourselves right now” or something on those lines. The train’s journey is a spiritual one for the three brothers, and that quote shows how lost they are after the their father’s death a year ago, and their mother’s abandonment.

I’m still not sure about the feathers. But I agree that it’s telling that each brother does something different. I view this as showing how they are not on the same wavelength. We are told by Francis that they used to be so close when they were younger, this scene could represent how they’ve grown apart. And later in the film they perform the blessing together, correctly, showing their renewed togetherness, looking to the future with optimism.

I interpreted the brothers dropping their luggage as they run for the Bengali Lancer as leaving all their baggage behind, metaphorically aswell as literally. I just love the simplicity of that image.

I really enjoyed the Darjeeling Limited, not just on an entertainment level, but also the deeper meaning and timelessness of the symbols it presented. Also, a fantastically apt soundtrack.

Alex

Very comprehensive review of movie The Darjeeling Limited. After reading the review I would like to see the movie. Thanks for sharing it.

Glutton Cat,

I really like your unique viewpoint! It’s hard to compare life to a train, because life is much more shaky and uncertain than the path of the train. But I agree with your analysis. I can only imagine that surviving a suicide attempt would leave you with a lot of questions. And if you can find the right answers, you can turn your life around.

Alex,

You’re welcome for the insights! I think the movie deals with many themes of loss in life. Literally and figuratively. When they incorrectly performed the feather ritual, they were all disconnected. But in the end, they became reconnected. I absolutely agree! The movie is so complex, but it contains a few simple messages. Leave behind your emotional baggage. Give up your past, because it is blocking your ability to live and love.

And I loved the song “Champs Elysées” at the end. It’s an absolutely classic, and it went so well with the credits!

Aqeel,

Thanks! You should watch the movie; it’s not for everyone, but if you’re on this website, I’m sure you will love it!