When Danish film director Bille August’s film NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON, adapted from Pascal Marcier’s novel, came to a close and the credits began to roll, my good friend and I, spontaneously, applauded. We were not attending a premiere, red carpet screening, where such behaviour is predicted.  In truth, we were attending a very low key late afternoon screening of the film at Paddington’s Chauvel cinema, with only a few people in attendance, spread out across the large cinema.

What makes NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON shine is that it tells an archetypal story superbly. At its heart, it is the story of a man living a very plodding, ordinary existence, like many of us do, who discovers a a new raison d’etre for living.

Brilliant British actor Jeremy Irons plays high school Latin teacher Raimund Gregorious who ekes out a very mundane, lonely existence as a high school Latin teacher in Berne, Switzerland. One day, through a bizarre set of circumstances, he stumbles upon a book written by Portuguese Doctor, philosopher and poet, Amadeu de Prado. Gregorious is drawn to the writing on a deep and personal level, and is mesmerised by De Prado’s story as a medic and resistence fighter against the tyranny of Portuguese dictator, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar.

Suddenly Gregorious abandons his deeply conservative nature and his Latin students, and hitches on the Night Train to Lisbon, dedicated to finding out more about the remarkable de Prado.

August’s telling of Mercier’s story is delicate and exquisite. A high calibre cast led by Jeremy Irons and featuring luminaries such as Bruno Ganz, Christopher Lee and Charlotte Rampling, are at the top of their game.

The film is beautifully lit by Filip Zumbrunn. Annette Fock’s score is exceptional.

THE NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON is only playing at a few cinemas, Hoyts Cinema Paris, Roseville and Chauvel cinemas. Try and step on this train before it leaves the big screen.