The Train Ride Home | SVA Thesis Film (2020)

A young woman and her father set out in hopes of catching up with each other. My final film from the School of Visual Arts (CAD). Hope you enjoy!

Art by Jessica Pon:

Music by Omar Habbak:

[ilikeceral]

Imagine how traumatic it would be to end up on the very train that your daughter leapt in front of. Horrible.

[robertscott]

That big dark "X" circled on the calendar is revealed at the beginning after she closes the door. That and none of the days after it have anything notated. That is strongly suggestive that she planned on that being her last day. The fact that it comes into focus after the door closes is the animator's way of telling us that it is not just some random calendar, but is significant to the story. When you add that to the other hints already mentioned and it seems hard to avoid the conclusion that she did indeed intend to end her life. However the film leaves just enough ambiguity to keep us from being absolutely sure. That is a mark of excellent film making.

[finnilla]

I’ve seen a lot of people point out the calendar, but her to-do list is also super telling and sad. The first thing on the list is “drop off donations” which could be her giving away her stuff, and “drop off snowy” could be her putting her pet up for adoption before she committed. Very sad, and very well done.

[peppaworm]

i love the use of warmer colours for baba's side of the train and colder tones for the daughter. depicts the mood so well. this is amazing.

[-Persephone_Wannabe-]

One thing I like about this is the blank eyes. It gives the feeling that everyone, at least in her perspective, is soulless. Unkind, uncaring, unloving. Even her.

Edit made 10/9/22: I've noticed something more! She says "This time he's nice" when talking to baba about someone she met, which to me seems to be an indication that she may be a victim of some kind of abuse from a past partner, which really just makes this whole animation so much sadder.

[jennyduong]

What an amazing story, I really hope that she’s okay. Seeing her trying so hard to not show how alone she feels and all the stress she’s under, was really heartbreaking. Yet at the same time understandable and relatable

[gammonprecast]

Glad that it had a happy ending. That "ding" after the dots on the phone shows that she didn't leap infront of the train but she read dad's msgs and replied to him hence the "ding"

[kilarthmac]

I'm crying. This was so well made, how on the phone she's trying to reassure her dad that everything's okay when the images show otherwise. How the lighting for the girl is dark and gloomy but for the dad it's bright and hopeful. The detail of the calendar, hinting that she planned to do that from the beginning. The subtle imagery of s*lf h*rm where she feels like she's drowning all alone. The ambiguous ending where we don't know if she survived or not. This was incredible.

[sagaedling]

It’s so apparent that you see what’s relevant in your life in what you watch, but for me this is all about help being there. She’s planned this. She’s set on doing it. She’s there. She’s trying so hard not to let it show and not to be a burden on her beloved baba.
But as a person who’s been suicidal I see other things too. The planning of a suicide is not only the last chance to “do something right” but also a last chance to change your mind. The time from when that X on the calendar was made until that train comes is the time for a sign. For anything that could tell her it’s worth still living. And when those dots turn up on her baba’s phone I breathed a sigh of relief, because I think that was it for her. An excuse to power through a little bit longer. A reason to keep on living.

For me this film is about such a small thing as a visit or a kind word to someone you love could be the difference between life and death.

[Radiohead-lover--life]

It’s funny how her call starts and ends with a step.

[WhatsUp]

Everyone Can relate to this, we're all trying to keep up a good face in front of our loved ones or people in general, a Friend, a pet, a family member, or just because we try to believe that everything is fine.
Even at the end, she kept a smile on and tried to look alright, which is really hard.
Even if it's only a fictionnal character, i Hope she's doing okay, also those things happen in Real life, like for all we know that nice lady that helped us Yesterday, could have killed herself.
It's really terrifying to see how much a person Can hide with a smile or a poker face.
Bless those people 💛

[Witchywoods]

This needs to be talked about more. Saying your fine and not have to look at anyone when you say it. It’s so easy. When really, they don’t even know how much pressure your under and how your struggling to keep it down. Like when your under iced water. They can’t see you, but you can see them. This captured that perfectly.

[MUSICBYOMAR]

Honored to have been a part of this film ❤️

[draconikratosus]

Who the heck disliked this wonderfully fantastic animation?! It's so blinkin' good!

[MallyproAnimation]

This is beautiful. The music and the voice acting sold it incredibly well. And the choice to give them no iris' and just have the white eyes makes it feel as though they're empty or lacking something. So well done.

[burridi]

I got chills oh my god- that was beautifully composed. Especially the calendar detail… she knew what she was doing. The blank eyes really added to the mild insanity of it. 10/10

[KrackmcKitty]

"Anyways, sorry for everything..." That line broke my heart

[ayesha_kamalie]

This is incredibly well made and so touching. It makes me realise how important it is to encourage your kids to open up freely about whatever it is that's bothering them. When a parent expresses themselves in a healthy way at home, it allows kids to be their authentic selves. This way, the parent will know and be able to read their kids better than anyone. Even if they claim to be OK. ❤️

[montreal]

just noticed that when she says she met someone, she says “don’t worry, this time he’s nice”. i think this implies she was in some kind of abusive relationship which makes this even more sad

[jermainegwynethpanaga]

It's 2024, I'm still here. Never fails to make me cry