MovieChat Forums > Night Train to Lisbon (2013) Discussion > Why do Europeans relate to one another s...

Why do Europeans relate to one another so well?


The protagonist is a Swiss. He meets a Portuguese woman on a bridge and saves her. He picks up a Portuguese book, which he finds fascinating, and so he takes a night train to Portugal, meets all these Portuguese people and hear their stories. But with the possible exception of the language gap, which we can't figure out because everyone speaks English, all of them mix so well and understand one another so well, as if nationalities don't matter. Is this the way Europe really is?

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The "Somewhat United" States of Europe? I agree. They do seem to understand each other despite speaking various languages. As opposed to somewhere such as the "United States" where "English" is spoken and no one seems to have the time to understand anyone else there or abroad.

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I think Europeans from different country understand each other only...in this movie, which is justified by Jeremy Irons character being so involved and empathic in the philosophy behind the book, whereas all the others are bound to a common past.
I wish it would be so also in real life, where patriotism, nationalism (i.e. provincialism) still is a huge wall to destroy, among countries, inside countries and also among cities.

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I don't know why, but most countries in Europe do really understand each other pretty well.

Of course this is not a rule of thumb, but for me works in maybe 80% of the cases. And when it doesn't (the other 20%) it's definitely not the case of nationalities.

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The establishment of the European Union. And super cheap flights.
Those two things really have done a great deal to connect the diverse countries.

But I think what contributes primarily to this sense of relating well to one another that you mentioned is that the protagonist himself went to Portugal with an open mind, a willingness to learn and engage in the history and culture of the people. I think any foreigner who goes to another country with this kind of attitude, with his degree of genuine interest and passion, would be generally well received by the locals.

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Because:

1. They have to live with each other in such a confined space;

2. They know they are the font and bastion of western civilization;

3. They have a long tradition to uphold as the most civilized and refined of the planet.

So, if Europe collapses, then there pretty much goes humankind.

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One, it's a movie and two, don't take it so seriously!
Not everyone I'm Europe understands everyone in Europe.
English is probably the main language of travelers because English is the language of business. Even in France where they don't like native English speakers, if they can tell it's not your main language they will like you.
Imagine an Italian tourist trying to get by at the pub/club scene in Stockholmor a Norwegian trying to have all their amenities in Greece! It's frustrating to say the least on all sides. So don't take this film so seriously because it's not like that, even if some people think it's the "bastion of civilization"...which it is not.

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No its a movie and all most of the actors are British so dont judge based on movies.
Go experience it and you will find Europeans DONT understand each other - thats romantic horse manure!

I've lived all over and even Eastern Europe dont get along and have few things in common - the only thing that is common is hatred of certain things imho For example Cigany or Muslims is one thing that unites Poland , Slovak , Czech, Hungary etc

Go to Greece and talk to the real Greeks - they hate Germans and still do!
Live in Italy for a while and you will find they hate everyone! lol

Its uncle Frank Kirsty!
Its time to play!

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Ironic post considering the premise of this movie was the Portuguese carnation revolution involving the overthrow of an authoritarian government as a result of the country’s colonial wars in Africa and an authoritarian government that used the PIDE to torture and destroy anyone who opposed it.

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