Following the accidental death of their father, three estranged brothers agree to journey across India in hopes of a spiritual reawakening. Their confusion and grief have distanced them from each other, leaving them self-medicated, self-serving and lost in their own skins. Aboard the cramped confines of the Darjeeling Limited (a train traveling over the Indian countryside), they begin to find the reasons for the rift growing ever greater between them. But merely going through the motions will not suffice, nor will following a busy itinerary of holy hot spots and pious pit stops. Though the voyage itself may not completely heal, it may at least point them in the right direction.

The three talented co-stars (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) make believable siblings, and the brief appearance of Anjelica Huston as their wayfaring mother puts their fictional family photo in a realistic frame. Director Wes Anderson contrasts the close quarters of the cramped train ride with open-air markets and sweeping desert vistas. Colorful camerawork by photography director Robert Yeoman reaches from the screen, while the soundtrack of traditional native instrumentation is spiced with a few important pop music cues.

Anderson continues his winning streak, crafting another surreal comedy that ends up more than a little affecting. His peculiar characters may initially seem larger than life, until one spends a little time with them. Their trek soon symbolizes our own flesh and blood journey—carrying the burden of human emotions along the way. We can laugh at their missteps, for we too seek such a passage. This funny film illustrates that only when rid of any excessive baggage will we get to where we’re going.

Note: This DVD release also contains the short film “Hotel Chevalier,” which was shown in theaters just prior to the feature. A prelude of sorts, it delves into the back story of Schwartzman’s rocky relationship with an ex-girlfriend (played by Natalie Portman). Though it is referenced in the film, it merely adds a touch of added exposition.

Walter Simpkins is Senior Writer of www.featurefilmreview.com. Please e-mail comments to him at walter(@)featurefilmreview.com.