TRAIN OF LIFE
A noble Holocaust comedy that never quite reaches its destination.
Should You Watch It?
Train of Life is an ambitious comic drama about frightened Jewish villagers trying to escape the Holocaust through an elaborate deception. Its best moments are the conversations among people of different convictions. The theological discussions are poignant, deep, and heartfelt, and the film develops a real sense of peril as the disguised train encounters Nazis and others along the way.
But the film’s noble intentions do not erase its serious problems. Frank sexuality, adultery, implied fornication, and nudity damage the dignity of the story. Communist characters and an ambiguous ending add further complications. The deception itself also strains credibility, and the movie is not fashioned as a broad crowd-pleaser.
If you are an adult willing to weigh those concerns, Train of Life is worth seeing for its moral and theological conversations; it is not suitable for a family audience.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESWhen Shlomo brings word that the Nazis are coming to his small Eastern European village, the Jewish community unites around an extraordinary plan. They buy and restore a train, make it look German, sew Nazi costumes for those who know German, and pretend to deport themselves all the way to Palestine.
Their journey soon brings encounters with actual Nazis, gypsies, Communist arguments, theological debates, and several narrow escapes. The villagers must keep their deception alive while facing the fear and pressure of the Holocaust.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means an ambitious and noble effort that delivers memorable moments without fully achieving its goal. The film offers wonderful conversation among people representing different persuasions. Its theological discussions are deep and heartfelt, and it creates a real sense of peril because the renegade group is exposed outside a camp.
The movie’s results are less successful than its intentions. The deception is somewhat unbelievable, and the story does not quite become a crowd-pleaser. Its conclusion arrives abruptly and vaguely, without the emotional satisfaction of a complete resolution.
The Worldview
The film presents primarily God-fearing Jews facing the Holocaust, with Communist and anti-Communist characters representing competing answers to justice, faith, and society. Its strongest worldview element is its willingness to let frightened people argue seriously about God. These theological discussions are poignant and include a genuine defender of God.
At the same time, the film weakens its moral vision through sexual frankness. Esther’s sexual predation, adultery, and the passions surrounding the gypsies damage the dignity and honor of the community. Yossi’s pursuit of Communism also shows how a passion for justice can strip a person of dignity and faith. The story is mostly moral, but its treatment of sexuality and its ambiguous ending keep it from offering a clear moral resolution.
The film takes suffering, courage, justice, and questions about God seriously. Scripture gives a steadier answer to suffering: “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mostly moral drama about primarily God-fearing Jews who wish to escape the Holocaust via a train, with a few Communist characters, a few anti-Communist characters, National Socialists (Nazis), & two pagan sexually promiscuous women; 7 obscenities & 6 mostly exclamatory profanities; mild violence including smack to the face, pretend bullying by fake National Socialists (Nazis) & actual National Socialists (Nazis) burn buildings; woman exposes herself to man, man looks at women bathing, heavy kissing, some sexual dancing by gypsies, scenes of seduction, implied fornication, & one scene of brief fornication; full female nudity (but no genitalia) & several close images of upper female nudity; alcohol use; smoking; and, deception themes.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The villagers face danger by working together, but their plan depends on deception. When is it right to hide the truth from an evil person, and what does Scripture say about truthfulness?
Exodus 1:15–21 · Ephesians 4:25The film includes serious arguments about God during suffering. How can grief and fear shape the questions we ask, and where can we turn for comfort?
Psalm 34:18 · Romans 8:35–39Yossi pursues justice through Communism but loses dignity and faith along the way. How can a desire for justice become disconnected from God’s character?
Micah 6:8 · James 3:13–18Sexual desire damages the community’s dignity in the story. How does Scripture connect love, marriage, and holiness?
1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 · Hebrews 13:4The Final Word
Train of Life is a thoughtful, ambitious film with moving theological conversations and a real sense of peril. Its frank sexuality, obscenity, and incomplete ending make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it remains WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family movie night, begin with.
