Train to Zakopané

It's hard to find really good movies these days. We do a lot of channel surfing in an effort to find worthy films. There are enough "entertaining" movies, but few that really go to your soul. This one will.

The movie is obviously low budget. There are only seven actors in the entire movie. (I don't even recall seeing any "extras".) The sets are cheap, or nearly non-existent. There are no fancy costumes, save for one pretty dress, which is essential to the story. There are no car chases, no gun fights, no tough guys, no busty chicks, no violence, no explicit sex, or anything else that non-thinking people need to enjoy a story. There is nothing to interfere with the story, that the actors tell so well.

I will grant that the movie gets off to a slow start. At first, the acting seems a little stilted, but that quickly fades as the story unfolds. This is perhaps because the story was originally a stage play, and then adapted for film. Regardless, the acting becomes some of the best I have ever seen. The hero, Sioma Sapir, (played by Mike Falkow), will immediately remind you of Liam Nieson's "Oscar Schindler", and the heroine, Katia Wampusky, (played by Tanna Frederick), is so winsome that you will fall in love with her, as does Sioma Sapir, contrary to his intentions. I cannot praise their acting skills highly enough. Their characters quickly become real people, whom we care deeply about.

This is simply a love story which begins on a train in 1928 Poland, and then moves to the ski resort town of Zakpane. That setting is a tip-off as to the plot....pre-WWII Poland. Enough said about that. A full range of emotions is aptly portrayed, as the love story, and its mystery, unfold. Knowing what lies ahead, your heart aches for both of these people, who find true love, and then must let it go.

Please watch the entire story, and don't be put off by the "low budgetness" of the movie. It's the story that counts, and this one will not disappoint.

P. S. This movie is supposed to be based on a true story.

The positives. The lead actor plays Semyon Sapir perhaps with some excess formality but mostly (not always) in a coherent, convincing way. The view of Poland between the wars with its reborn nationalism tinged with chauvinism is generally accurate. There are intriguing snippets of information about the Russian revolution, mostly Semyon's experiences in a Bolshevik prison, whether real or not. That makes the movie a sort of light history lesson.

The negatives. Questionable theaterlike acting from the rest of the cast. Script generally witty but shot through with cliches (e. G. Father Alexandrov is The Bigoted Polish Priest). The coup de foudre and subsequent romance of. Semyon and Katia is unconvincingly portrayed; there is no chemistry at all between the actors. Sets are deplorable, especially the extra wide train compartment that brings to mind science fiction films from the fifties. The whole movie does not rise over just filmed theater. The toy train scenes used to open up the play look silly and there is is a lot of stock footage. And, why the accent in Zakopané?

Perhaps one should add two footnotes. There have been many movies denouncing Polish anti-Semitism but those that murdered Polish Jews during WWII were Germans, not Poles. And, occupying Nazi authorities considered Catholic priests"deadly enemies" and imprisoned/murdered thousands of them.

I came across this film by accident, and boy was it a detrimental accident! A friend bought tickets for the wrong show. I figured no big deal this film is gonna have the actors & director do a Q&A. How bad could it be if the director and actors are so confident to do a Q&A after, Right? WRONG.

During the first two minutes you'll notice some pretty horrific acting, setup, costume, etc. . A few more minutes in and you will know wretched agony!!!! Every minute feels like eternity, and for the rest of the bloody film you'll find yourself scowling and wishing death at every worthless stupid character in this "film"

It is inconceivable that anyone could make a film this hopelessly, endlessly, mind-meltingly horrific. This is not a bad movie - it's a war crime.

*Accents come and go with wild abandon

*The dialogue is that witless and badly phrased.

*the chemistry is illogical and hideous

*every single person is reprehensible, unlikable, stupid, and utterly lifeless

This is the worst film I have ever seen. I actually felt like I accomplished something by watching this. Check off the bucket list for enduring a new form of waterboarding.

There were no redeeming qualities about this film. I am lighthearted, and like lots of movies people consider bad (Troll 2, Satan's little helper, The Room, etc.), I can usually laugh at films that I myself find bad. This movie got a few beginning laughs as a plea to insanity, and due to my inner monologue of every "scene". In the end I only felt rage, scowl, and a MASSIVE headache.

I felt robbed watching it and felt I could have done something more useful with my time like watch leaves fall, do jumping jacks, call my ex, go to church. Please don't watch this. If you do at least have friends with you and keep any sharp objects away.

0/10 stars.