Mystery Train 1989

In this intricate cinematic tapestry, three seemingly unrelated tales converge over the course of a single evening in the vibrant music hub of downtown Memphis, Tennessee. At the center of these intertwining narratives stands the Arcade Hotel, a modest flophouse offering refuge to weary travelers, where the dedicated staff, including a night clerk and a bellboy, endeavor to keep hospitality alive. Among the aged walls of this establishment, one constant remains: a prominent portrait of Elvis Presley, whose larger-than-life essence seeps into every room, despite their lack of television.

The first story unfolds as Mitsuko, a Japanese woman, accompanied by her friend Jun, embarks on an American journey that leads them to Memphis in reverence to the King himself. Mitsuko exhibits an unwavering obsession with Elvis, having meticulously assembled a scrapbook that documents his mystical connections with figures from Madonna to Buddha and even Lady Liberty. As they explore the city and visit iconic spots like Sun Records, their odyssey culminates in an overnight stay at the Arcade Hotel, paving the way for their continued travels.

In the second narrative, we meet Luisa, an Italian widow grappling with grief as she finds herself stuck in Memphis while transporting her husband’s coffin back to Italy. Housing with Dee Dee, a young woman recently separated from her British boyfriend, Johnny, Luisa struggles to find peace amidst Dee Dee’s incessant chatter. However, when Dee Dee eventually succumbs to sleep, Luisa experiences a mystical visitation from the spirit of Elvis Presley, an ethereal encounter that lingers long after daybreak’s arrival.

As the story reaches its intensity, Johnny—a man steeped in despair after losing both his job and his girlfriend—seeks solace in excessive drinking. Among his fellow troubled souls, including his confidant Will Robinson and his increasingly empathetic brother-in-law, Charlie, they leave a chaotic trail behind as they stumble from bar to bar. Their night kicks off with a liquor store heist, marked by shattering glass and the harrowing cries of a terrified clerk, who narrowly escapes harm due to Johnny’s uncertain aim.

Retreating to a hotel to evade the fallout, the atmosphere thickens with tension and intoxication as Charlie unravels tales from his cherished childhood TV show, Lost in Space. Will, reflecting on their own dire situation, comments on their sense of feeling lost, a haunting sentiment in their spiraling adventure.

The subsequent morning brings a harsh reality for Charlie as he confronts the truth: Johnny is not the brother-in-law he imagined. Anger and betrayal flare within him, but time runs out as Johnny reaches a breaking point, driven by despair to grasp a weapon with fatal intentions. In a tragic mishap, Charlie’s attempt to intervene ends with an accidental gunshot to his leg, leaving him in pain and confusion.

As the three friends-turned-accomplices rush to escape the looming threat of a police car blissfully unaware of their misdeeds, this chaotic chapter concludes. The film gracefully transitions back to the serene moments of trains, airports, and heartfelt goodbyes, beautifully wrapping the first two stories into a cohesive whole.