The film follows the friends of a recently deceased minor painter Jean-Baptiste Emmerich as they take a train from Paris to Limoges, where he is to be buried, attend his funeral, then gather at the home of his twin brother, Lucien.

[2] At the funeral Jean-Marie makes a speech condemning family life, and declares, to Claire's anger, that he will never become a father.

[2] The inspiration for the film, and its title, came from a request made by the documentary film-maker François Reichenbach to those attending his funeral.

Interviewed in The Guardian, Patrice Chereau said "You cannot really fabricate the movement of a train in a studio - the actors and the camera moving at the same time.

[3] Reviewing the film for Sight & Sound, Chris Darke said "the journey to Limoges is a triumph both of exposition and choreography.....Éric Gautier's use of handheld 'Scope cinematography gives the feeling of both buffeting movement and swooping detail.