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Train de vie (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
16 September 1998 (France) morePlot:
In 1941, the inhabitants of a small Jewish village in Central Europe organize a fake deportation train so that they can escape the Nazis and flee to Palestine. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
9 wins & 4 nominations moreUser Comments:
Unexpected plot but plenty of laughter moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Lionel Abelanski | ... | Shlomo | |
| Rufus | ... | Mordechai | |
| Clément Harari | ... | The Rabbi | |
| Michel Muller | ... | Yossi | |
| Agathe de La Fontaine | ... | Esther | |
| Johan Leysen | ... | Schmecht | |
| Bruno Abraham-Kremer | ... | Yankele | |
| Marie-José Nat | ... | Sura | |
| Gad Elmaleh | ... | Manzatou | |
| Serge Kribus | ... | Schtroul | |
| Michel Israel | ... | Sage 3 | |
| Rodica Sanda Tutuianu | ... | Golda | |
| Sanda Toma | ... | Mere de Yossi | |
| Zwi Kanar | ... | Lilenfeld | |
| Razvan Vasilescu | ... | The Tzigan Colonel |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for some sexuality and nudity.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
103 minColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby SRCertification:
Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:RFilming Locations:
Bucharest, RomaniaFun Stuff
Soundtrack:
Cine iubeste si lasa moreFAQ
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Train de vie (1998)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Location | carlosmkt17 |
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There's quite a bit going on in "Train of Life" but it's worth following. The premise is that a shtetl (Jewish community) fears it will be deported to a World War II concentration camp. The village fool, Shlomo, comes up with the idea to purchase a locomotive, train some of the villagers to talk/act/dress like Nazis and head for Palestine in hopes they can fool the real Nazis.
Okay, the premise is far fetched. That's a given. But for this film, it works. The close-knit village buys into the plan and sets to work creating the ruse. Shlomo rises about his "village idiot" persona and finds new worth. The fake Nazi commander, Mordechai, begins to take his role a little too literally. There's a subplot about some of the young men converting to Communism. And a small band of resistance workers who try to blow up the train.
But the star of this film is not one person, it is the village. They've banded together to survive, which isn't lost amid the humor. There's true fear and hope. Some may feel the villagers are made fun of and lampooned, but there's a healthy respect for the Jewish customs and family closeness in this film. Watch the scene where the villagers prepare for the Sabbath during their journey and you'll see what I mean.
Too many films to count have focused on the reality of the Holocaust. There's no deny that it was a horrific event that should never be forgotten. This film does not desecrate or abandon that truth. It simply adds a new dimension worth exploring.