The Night Train to Lisbon is a 2013 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Bille August and starring Jeremy Irons. The movie is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Swiss writer Pascal Mercier.The story follows Raimund Gregorius, a Swiss teacher, as he takes the night train to Lisbon and becomes obsessed with uncovering the life of a fictional Portuguese doctor and essayist.