Watch Routine Pleasures

Routine Pleasures is a thought-provoking documentary film by Jean-Pierre Gorin that was released in 1986. The movie explores the lives and passions of model train enthusiasts in the United States. The film is 1 hour and 20 minutes long and is shot in color. Throughout the documentary, Gorin takes the viewer on a journey through the world of model trains and the subculture of people who enjoy them.

The movie is divided into two distinct halves, the first of which focuses on the hobbyist culture of model trains. Through interviews with enthusiasts, Gorin draws out the unique appeal of model trains. Some describe it as a way to escape from the pressures of everyday life, while others emphasize the technical skills involved in building and operating a model train set. The interviews provide an intimate and personal perspective on how people become hooked on the hobby and the deep satisfaction they derive from it.

The second half of the film takes on a more introspective tone, as Gorin delves into the philosophical dimensions of model trains. He examines the allure of repetition and ritual that the hobby embodies. Gorin highlights that there is something fundamental in the human psyche that craves routine and predictability, and that the appeal of model trains lies in this desire for stability in a chaotic world.

The documentary also touches on themes of nostalgia and the past. Many of the model train enthusiasts featured in the film are older men who grew up in a different era. They speak fondly of their childhoods, and the nostalgia of reliving memories from their youth through model trains is a recurring motif in the film. Gurin uses this as a jumping-off point to reflect on the broader cultural fascination with the past, and how it shapes our present.

One of the most striking things about Routine Pleasures is the way Gorin uses the documentary form to blur the lines between fact and fiction. The film is not a traditional documentary in the sense that it aims to present a neutral view of the subject matter. Instead, the film seems to be as much about Gorin's own relationship with model trains as it is about the hobbyists themselves. It is a personal meditation on the meaning of model trains, as much as it is an exploration of the culture surrounding them.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Routine Pleasures is the way that it manages to feel both specific and universal at the same time. On the one hand, it is a film about a subculture of model train enthusiasts. On the other hand, it speaks to broader themes of human behavior and desire that are relevant to us all. As such, the movie is successful in tapping into a universal human experience through the lens of a niche hobby.

The film is also beautifully shot, with Gorin's cinematography doing an excellent job of capturing both the intricacy of the model trains themselves and the emotional depth of the people who enjoy them. The soundtrack includes a mix of classical music and train sounds, which help to create a sense of immersion in the world of model trains.

Overall, Routine Pleasures is a fascinating and unique documentary that manages to merge a specific subculture with broader philosophical questions about human behavior. It is a thought-provoking film that will leave viewers with a new appreciation for a hobby that might otherwise seem insignificant.