New Film 'Train Dreams' Explores Extraordinary Life in Ordinary Times

A new adaptation of Denis Johnson's acclaimed novella brings an intimate portrait of early 20th-century American life to the screen.

"Train Dreams" stars Joel Edgerton as Robert, a logger and railroad worker navigating life in the rugged American wilderness. The actor was drawn to the project's dual nature—both epic in scope while maintaining an intimate focus on one man's life.

"It was both sweeping and epic, and it moves over decades effortlessly, but then within that was this very intimate domestic portrait of a family, and a life," Edgerton explains in the preview.

The film explores themes of nature, labor, and the quiet dignity of a simple life. Edgerton, who grew up in the countryside, was particularly attracted to how the story emphasizes respect for the natural world.

For more on how the film captures what Edgerton calls "so American" and heartbreaking, watch David Daniel's full preview above.