Overview
A village's desperate attempt to escape the horrors of war leads to unexpected hilarity and profound insights.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- absurdist
- bittersweet
- darkly comic
- thought-provoking movie night
- international cinema evening
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an affectionate, inventive Holocaust tragicomedy, though some considered its slapstick tone uneven or too overtly silly.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The villagers' improvised deportation train and comic Nazi disguises coexist with the threat of extermination.
Shlomo, the village fool, identifies the Nazi threat and proposes the escape plan.
Jewish villagers adopt German uniforms, railway identities, and staged deportation roles.
The story foregrounds the small community's Jewish village life, internal debates, humor, and solidarity.
Films like Train of Life, and why
Life Is Beautiful
Holocaust tragicomedy balancing absurd humor, survival, and reverence amid Nazi persecution
Jakob the Liar
Holocaust comedy using deception, communal solidarity, and a Jewish protagonist's resourcefulness
To Be or Not to Be
War-era farce built around disguises, theatrical deception, and anti-Nazi satire
The Pianist
Ensemble Holocaust drama emphasizing Jewish community life, survival, and moral courage
Movie Details
- Director
- Radu Mihăileanu
- Release Date
- 1998-09-16
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (306)
Cast
- Lionel Abelanski
- Rufus
- Clément Harari
- Agathe de La Fontaine
- Michel Muller
- Johan Leysen
- Bruno Abraham-Kremer
- Gad Elmaleh
- Marie-José Nat
- Serge Kribus
Common questions
- What is Train of Life about?
- A Jewish village turns a staged deportation train into an audacious, absurdist escape from the Holocaust.
- What is Train of Life like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Train of Life as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Train of Life violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Train of Life as moderate.
- What did critics think of Train of Life?
- Critics generally found the film an affectionate, inventive Holocaust tragicomedy, though some considered its slapstick tone uneven or too overtly silly.
- Which films are like Train of Life?
- Films with a similar feel include Life Is Beautiful, Jakob the Liar, To Be or Not to Be, and The Pianist.
- How long is Train of Life?
- Train of Life runs 103 minutes.
