Train of Life (1998)
"Train de vie" (original title)

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.

Director:

Radu Mihaileanu

Writers:

Radu Mihaileanu, Moni Ovadia (italian version)

Stars:

Lionel Abelanski, Rufus, Clément Harari

10 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

Central Europe, WWII. The village fool of a small Jewish community warns the townsfolk that the Nazis are coming, and advises them to build a fake deportation train to cross the Russian border and get to Palestine. Some Jews are dressed up with German uniforms, and soon they start getting strange ideas about how it feels to be a Nazi; others are infected with the fast-spreading germ of communism. Meanwhile, the Russian border gets closer and closer...

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Plot Keywords:

train | nazi | jewish | palestine | village | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Distributor's site (French) Paramount Classics

Country:

France Belgium Netherlands Israel Romania

Language:

French German

Release Date:

16 September 1998 (France)

Also Known As:

Train of Life

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$21,038 (USA) (5 November 1999)

Gross:

$154,790 (USA) (26 November 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belfilms, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References To Be or Not to Be (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Cine iubeste si lasa"
Written by Maria Tanase

User Reviews

A superb movie!

Rarely does one has the pleasure of watching a movie that combines

melancholy, drama, humor and insight into the human heart as this one does. A superb cast does honor to a powerful script. All of those who loved Roberto

Benigni's "Life is beautiful" will be pleased to know that this film treats the same general subject with at least as much humor and sensitivity, but with more depth. I was not familiar with either the director or any of the actors. I just hope we will see more from them, as I can't praise this work enough.