Mystery Train (1989)

Under the spectral shadows of Memphis, the city that cradled the legendary Sun Studio, unfolds a captivating triptych of tales woven with the threads of rock 'n roll pilgrimage, poignantly nostalgic Americana, and the haunting echoes of forgotten spaces. These tales twirl around the near-derelict Arcade Hotel, a seedy refuge where the lives of four extraordinary visitors, unaware of each other's existence, intersect over the course of one endless night. In "Far from Yokohama," we meet Jun and Mitzuko, a pair of eighteen-year-olds from Yokohama on a budget journey, a musical pilgrimage of sorts, to the landmarks of their favorite American rock icons from the 50s and 60s. With Mitzuko's broken English as their only guide, they wander through Memphis, debating whether to follow the trail of Carl Perkins or Elvis Presley, while drawing parallels between their home city and Memphis. Next, we encounter "A Ghost" where Dee Dee, a runaway from a crumbling relationship with her British "husband" Johnny, finds herself sharing a room with Luisa, a recent widow from Rome who's in town to repatriate her deceased husband's remains. As they navigate their circumstances, the two women may be harboring an unseen third presence, a spectral guest whose existence is hinted at by Luisa's unusual experiences in town. The final narrative strand, "Lost in Space," brings Johnny, Dee Dee's estranged "husband," into focus. Rescued from his drunken stupor by Charlie, Dee Dee's barber brother, and their friend Will, they take refuge in the Arcade Hotel as they hope for the fallout from a certain incident to dissipate by morning. Throughout this unforgettable night in Memphis, the eternal allure of a 1956-handsome Elvis Presley weaves an ethereal tapestry, raising the question: is the King truly gone? As the stories unravel, the magic of Memphis, with its rich musical history and mystical aura, serves as the backdrop to these interwoven tales of love, loss, and the longing for connection.

Mystery Train is a comedy movie featuring Youki Kudoh.

Mystery Train is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Mystery Train on Amazon Video.