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Watching Il Treno dei Bambini - The Children's Train was a deeply moving experience that left me tearful and reflective. The movie tells the true story of Treni della Felicità (Trains of Happiness), where some 70,000 Italian children were relocated temporarily from poverty-stricken southern regions to families in the north post-WWII (Ref: Wiki). Organized by the Italian Resistance and the Catholic Church, these trains rescued children from war's devastating effects. The movie masterfully weaves together historical facts and fiction, crafting a captivating narrative that transports viewers to wartime Italy.

For the children who were part of this remarkable endeavor, the experience was bittersweet. On one hand, they were given a chance to escape the horrors of war and find temporary solace in safer environments. On the other hand, they had to adapt to new and unfamiliar surroundings without their families.

As the children eventually returned to their homes, they faced the daunting task of readjusting to a life forever changed by the war. The movie also sheds light on Italy's post-war transformation, including the communist influence in northern regions and the struggle for women's literacy.

The Children's Train is a powerful and moving tribute to the courage and strength of the children and the families both on south and north. A beautiful heartwarming story. It left an indelible mark on my heart. A great watch, available on Netflix.

During this melodrama.between the child Amerigo and her mother I had several times tears in my eyes. It's a heartbreaking true story and told in a very magnificent way. The atmosphere from after war in the 40ies and the costumes were well done. The places in Naples were wonderfully filmed. Especially Amerigo played by top shooting and coming star Christian Cervone was the best actor in my opinion. It was amazing and sentimental in the same, similar to the great success Cinema Paradiso or Il Postino. Then, the director Comencini made an emotional blockbuster that will have a great success on Netflix and on the international film festivals. It deserves an 8/10 for this original movie proving that nowadays it is still possible to create quality films on higher levels. Watch it.

I liked the film, it has a good character development, an interesting plot and a good set design.

I want to highlight some things that I liked about the film: The actors, the scenes, the character development, the story and how it progresses seem to me to be the strong points of this film. It does not contain any notable flaws and it does have its emotional and heartbreaking moments.

It is the first film by Christian Cervone (Amerigo) and he has done a good job interpreting his protagonist, he has a future in the world of acting, I have no doubt about that.

It is without a doubt one of the best Italian films I have seen and I fully recommend it.

Italian director Cristina Comencini delivers a beautiful film about a mother's love and the innocence of being a child in an emotional and natural tone of a story that marked hundreds of lives in the midst of World War II .

Netflix allows us to enjoy this beautiful film based on the novel by Viola Ardone and that transports us to the beautiful story of Amerigo who in his innocence and in his love takes us through a story full of beautiful moments that unfortunately become too short. The delicate direction of Cristina Comencini captivates us with that delicacy of providing beautiful shots and a raw portrait, but always seen from the innocence of children, which allows us to have a film always with a hopeful tone. We are in the middle of a war, but both its script and its direction in a calculated way make you feel that it is present, but they never leave aside the true center of paying homage to all those children who had to leave their mothers to find love with another new family.

The film is intelligent because among its wonderful photography and its music it hides captivating performances by Serena Rossi and Barbara Ronchi, two lonely mothers filled with love for Amerigo, played in an exciting way by Christian Cervone, who with his charisma and tenderness carries on his shoulders a story full of emotions in all aspects.

On this occasion we are faced with a work that reminds us how sometimes linearity and simplicity work to captivate that necessary fiber in the spectator. It is a classic proposal, but with determination, it is a journey along two paths, the first the innocence of childhood and the second motherhood in two looks that show us that loving is also letting go and wanting is also knowing how to understand.

A beautiful film with all the blood and Italian love that once again brings us a great director, behind the camera and an emotional tribute to all those who grew up and adapted to this train of hope.

This is a beautiful little Italian gem. The over all production to include photography, sets, costumes and musical score are superb and in my opinion worth several awards.

The script is very simple although not too original as it reminds of some old fashioned Italian style seen several times before over the history of Italian film making. It probably reminds of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso or La Vita e' Bella but it also reminds of old Sophia Loren's films given the importance of the female characters.

However the story is still beautifully told and it is sweet and touching in its simplicity.

The acting is superb from all members of the cast , including the children.

It is an unexpected high quality film from Netflix which in my opinion would deserve recognition from the public and the critics. An old fashioned enjoyable and very touching beautiful film. I had a little tear at the end.

This movie - which is internationally known as "The Children's Train" - is based on a historical fiction novel from 2019. This novel is in turn inspired by true events. It is a story about the post-WW2 (World War 2) life of a young italian boy, which originally lived in the south Italian city of Naples.

After the WW2 ended in Italy, it was the communist party of Italy, a.k.a. The "P. C. I.", which supported an initiative from the "U. D. I.", a feminist movement in Italy. The goal of the initiative was to improve the life of parents and their children in the impoverished and less developed southern part of Italy. To bridge the harsh winter period, families in the south were able to send their children temporarily to the more rich northern part of Italy. This initiative, which was named "Trains of Happiness", ran from 1945 until 1952 and included around 70,000 children in total.

The "Trains of Happiness"-initiative could be a relief for some parents, because many a family was ripped apart due to a father and/or mother having died during the war. Let us also not forget the damage of the bombing campaigns during WW2. For instance the city of Naples - which the main character originally lived in - was bombed around 200 times during WW2. This by both German as well as Allied forces. In Italy, it was only Milan that was more heavily bombed than Naples.

In this movie, we see the main character, a young boy, living together with his mother in war ravaged Naples during 1946. His mother thereby choses to make use of the above-mentioned relief program. More specifically, the boy will be moved to the Modena region, which is located in northern Italy.

It is interesting to know that Modena is - also nowadays - known as the world's "Supercar Capital" and for its Formula One circuit. It is home to such (former) brands as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati, DeTomaso and Pagani.

Now back to the storyline of this movie. It develops in such a way that it will change the life of the child forever. In a way, it shows how relative wealth can create opportunity for a child to not only discover and develop passions and interests, but also how it favors the creation of a more stable family bond in which a child finds both love, care and happiness. In the end, it even causes a child to favor one life, and its corresponding parent(s), above another.

The storyline itself is actually pretty basic to begin with. This also results in the movie to be predictable and at some times even slowgoing. Since it is based on true events that relate to my personal interest in WW2, it kept my attention. I must admit that it is not a movie in which we see the warfare itself. But to me WW2 also includes the aftermath of it, including the period in which we see the population recover. I though wonder if the movie may not be a bit too boring for someone not having an interest in WW2.

What makes me also wonder, is what "based on true events" really stands for?! Yes, I am very certain that the children exchange program is true. But are the life, events and choices of the child real?! I personally think that's a part of the overall story that may be more fiction that reality...

Let's now make the jump to the "look & feel" of the movie... And I can be very short about that, because it is excellent. There was not a point that I felt the movie was not taking place in the year it was portraying. All uniforms, clothes, houses, streets, trains and other props felt in touch with the time-period that was being portrayed. The scenes where we see the impact of all bombing campaigns on Naples are downright impressive.

Now the acting! And I found that to be pretty decent. We mostly see the young boy and he is clearly a talented and also promissing actor. The other actors, both young and old, are also seriously talented. I must admit that the people that were responsible for casting, have done an excellent job.

Concluding, I think this movie deserves a score of 5.9/10, resulting in an IMDb rating of 6 stars. As such, I find this movie an acceptable watch and time well spent. Especially since it triggered me to lookup and learn some new facts about post-war Italy. I do think though that - after having seen the movie once - I do not plan to ever watch it again. The movie is just too predictable and slowgoing for that to ever happen. As such, it doesn't come even close to an IMDb rating of 7, which for me signifies it is worthwile a possible future second viewing.

As a final note, it deserves to be mentioned that a similar "relocation" initiative existed in the United States (USA). This during the period 1854 to 1929. Operating under the name "Orphan Train Movement", it relocated around 200,000 children - often from immigrant origin - from the overcrowded eastern part of the USA to the farm-rich grounds in the mid-West part of the USA. A 1979 TV movie under the name "Orphan Train" was based on this initiative.

While many will review the stunning acting, landscapes and story, I come away from this movie with that sense of a Mom's love.

Most of you will know the type, the love that will do what ever it takes to make sure her son has the best chance at life.... Even if that love breaks her own heart..... When a boy needs most of his life to work out the start of his life and the journey's he has to take, this movie explains this in spades.

Although it took me a couple of times to fully grasp the entire concept of the movie, (I prefer natural dialogue and sub-titles, so I sometimes miss a bit while reading) the idea of watching it a second time, made me feel good....this story is that good.

This is a movie, that will stay with me for the rest of my life.... It's that powerful.

This is one of the best movies I have ever watched.

Many users of the global streaming service NETFLIX are now regularly disappointed when an English-language original film is released there. However, interesting discoveries can be made every now and then in non-English-language works. This is the case with the Italian film IL TRENO DEI BAMBINI by Cristina COMENCINI, which has been available on the streamer for a few weeks.

The orchestra musician Amerigo Speranza (Stefano ACCORSI, known from the quality series 1992/1993/1994) learns of the death of his mother in Naples in 1994. He then remembers his turbulent childhood in the completely impoverished Naples of 1946. As the child of a single mother (Serena ROSSI), he had to make a living surrounded by other children with odd jobs and black market fraud. Hunger, poverty and neglect were not empty words. But the opportunity to spend the winter with communist party members in northern Italy was not readily accepted. After all, the children, who were deeply religious, were afraid of being roasted in the oven by the communists. Amerigo (Christian CERVONE) and his friends reluctantly board the "children's train" heading north. But the encounter with his foster mother Derna (Barbara RONCHI) there will change Amerigo's life forever.

The Italian director Cristina COMENCINI (OSCAR 2006: ACADEMY AWARD nomination for LA BESTIA NEL CUORE) has created a warm-hearted and socially critical film about an event that had been forgotten even in Italy itself. Her father Luigi COMENCINI was also a film director and was awarded the Silver Bear at the BERLINALE in 1954 for PANE, AMORE E FANTASIA (with Gina LOLLOBRIGIDA and Vittorio De SICA).

If you liked TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY by Paola CORTELLESI and enjoyed reading the novel tetralogy by Elena FERRANTE (My Brilliant Friend), you shouldn't miss this film!

When you can't give your children a better future sometimes it's better to let others do that. That is not the parents place to decide but the child. The worst thing that can happen a child is not starvation but rejection. In many places a mothers love is a luxury and children are mistakes that happens. This movie is extremely good just showing that. It's not judgmental but fair with both the mother and the foster home. The acting of the children is extraordinary. The makeup and the locations take you on a journey into to the postwar era and how people managed to survive in such conditions. A very compelling filmic experience.

The Italians are brilliant at creating gems like this. Beautiful stories, top-class performers and wonderful musical scores.

Over the years we have seen films that dealt with the evacuation of English children from London and other cities to the countryside due to the aerial bombings during WW2. However, I was certainly not aware of this particular piece of history that, after WW2, saw 70,000 children from the South of Italy sent up North for a different reason, to avoid poverty and the terrible conditions they were living in. This film, set in those sad times, provides us with an insight of what it must have been like for the families.

Inevitably, tissues will be required at times and the gentle, haunting score by legendary Italian composer Nicola Piovani (who won an Oscar for "La Vita è Bella") enhances the entire production.

Strangely, the music credit (at the time of writing) is not shown on IMDB, or at least not in its usual position on the list.

Having watched this production you will likely be inspired, like me, to do some further research into this period of Italian history.

An emotional and touching movie based on the relationship of a mother with a seven year old boy. Those who are fond of sitting through such stories will find it very satisfying. The setting is war-torn Italy in 1946 where children are collectively sent by train to live with families in the prosperous northern part of the country. This is a temporary arrangement to prevent the children from the ill effects of war. In the new place seven year old Amerigo now has mother figure in the shape of Derma who showers him with motherly love. The other members of the family also love him and look after him. When he goes back to his mother Antonietta after some time he finds a stark difference in the quality of life. Whereas with Derma he was looked after, had a good standard of living and encouraged to play violin, back home to his mother Antonietta he has to work to earn money day to day.

Director Cristina Comencini has made a heartwarming, poignant, sentimental and touching movie which will be generally liked by family audiences. Special appreciation must be expressed to the director for depicting the environment of Italy of the 40s so realistically with the help of some fine cinematography. I however felt that the black and white format would have suited the story and characters better.

This was a wonderful Italian film based on the title novel, and it truly captured the loneliness and love felt for those children sent to new families during the war. Amerigo is one such example, and his character development was lovely to see. It was hard to see what war would have been like to those affected. The children aren't spoken of as much, so this film hits spot on. The filming was beautifully done, as well as the soundtrack. It combined with the story of losing a child so that they can be loved and taken care of will truly make you cry. Be prepared for the ending, for it sums up the whole story in an emotional and profound way.

This touching film is a beautifully crafted tale that explores the profound themes of love and the human capacity to give and receive it. The story is recounted through the perspective of a little boy, now grown, as he reflects on pivotal moments in his life. Its poignant narrative is accompanied by a soundtrack that perfectly complements the film's emotional tone, drawing the audience further into its tender moments.

For those who appreciate intimate, character-driven stories with significant emotional depth, this movie is a must-see. Its simplicity belies the complexity of its themes, offering a quiet yet profound meditation on love, memory, and connection.

Loved it.

After a long long time I have watched a movie without looking at the time left.

And after a really long time a movie moved me to tears.

It's just so real...The feelings are absolutely raw, unfiltered or tainted by unnecessary drama. The children's fears are palpable and at times comic. Just goes to show that as human beings we often end up hurting the ones that love us the most. Yet it shouldn't upset us because we are all in the same boat. Amerigo could be any of us...without any change whatsoever. You do feel sorry for him at the end though.

Just reinforces my belief in the superiority of Italian movies <3.

I started watching The Children's Train without much expectation, but by the time the credits rolled, I was completely mesmerized. This film is nothing short of a masterpiece. Its story is deeply touching, blending the innocence of childhood with the resilience of the human spirit in a way that's both heartbreaking and uplifting.

The cinematography beautifully captures the era, immersing the viewer in its poignant setting. The characters are so well-developed and portrayed with such authenticity that they feel like real people, leaving an indelible mark on your heart. The narrative is gripping and layered, drawing you into the emotional journey of the children, their struggles, and their enduring hope.

The Children's Train is more than just a film-it's an experience. It reminds us of the fragility of life, the strength of love, and the incredible capacity for hope even in the darkest times. It's rare to find a movie that moves you this profoundly, and this one has left me speechless.

If you're looking for a story that will stay with you long after watching, this is it. A must-watch and a true cinematic gem. Bravo to everyone involved in creating this unforgettable piece of art.

This touching film is a beautifully crafted tale that explores the profound themes of love and the human capacity to give and receive it. The story is recounted through the perspective of a little boy, now grown, as he reflects on pivotal moments in his life. Its poignant narrative is accompanied by a soundtrack that perfectly complements the film's emotional tone, drawing the audience further into its tender moments.

For those who appreciate intimate, character-driven stories with significant emotional depth, this movie is a must-see. Its simplicity belies the complexity of its themes, offering a quiet yet profound meditation on love, memory, and connection.

I would absolutely suggest watching it if you appreciate period history based moving art genre cinema and are keen on watching them.

How art's supposed to make you feel and move you in a certain way.. this beautiful and intricately crafted and polished cinema. Although based on an eponymous novel, but it like the novel is based and inspired by the realities of post-war nation and the life experiences around it.. the visuals and frames are lovely and the soft dramatic, soul moving heart touching movie, with amazing acting.. absolutely amazingly done by Christian Cervone along with the much talented cast.

Post-war Italy spun and narrated beautifully in "Il Treno dei Bambini" in Italian and/or "The Children's Train" in English.

They don't often made great movies like this any more. I loved the story which is based on true historical facts, the scenes, the music , the meaning and everything else.

I believe it will become a classic Italian movie and worth seeing it.

A lot of historical facts that we now ignore are very well presented in the movie. They have managed to bring on the screen the climate of that time.

It also brings us a nostalgia for our younger years and the ideas that we have once loved and believe in, how they have fated over time .

A really inspiring movie to pursue your goals against any odds. I will definitely watch it again.

Il treno dei bambini is a poignant and beautifully crafted film that transports viewers to post-war Italy, where poverty, survival, and the hope for a better future intertwine. Through the eyes of a young Neapolitan boy, the film captures the stark contrast between the desperation of the South and the relative stability of the North.

The film doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of post-war Naples-hunger, street vendors selling mice as food, and families struggling to survive. Yet, it also highlights the resilience of children and the kindness of strangers.

Visually stunning and emotionally gripping, the film excels in its cinematography and period-accurate details. The performances, particularly from the young actors, add authenticity to the story. While some moments are heartbreaking, Il treno dei bambini ultimately carries a message of hope, showing how even in the darkest times, humanity and solidarity can shine through.

The crux of the movie is mother's love for her child.

The story is set in 1940's war inflicted Italy. An impoverished mother is helpless as she can't afford to give a good life to her child Amerigo because of her situation. Meanwhile the communist activities in her city give her hope for a better life for her child. The communists have a program to send the impoverished children of South Italy to wealthy North Italy volunteers to take care of those children in winter times. On such a journey, Amerigo receives great love and care from his North Italian mother and her relatives. They gift and teach him a violin.

After the winter, when the harvest is ready, Amerigo has to go to South Italy to his impoverished mother back along with his Piano.

His impoverished mother seeing him back in great condition along with a violin, feels again the same helplessness that she can't give him a good life due to her circumstances. Hence she tries to ignite a feeling of hate in his son's heart for her by treating him harshly and telling him she has sold the violin to buy groceries. She devoids him of all the letters and gifts the north italian mother used to send to him. As he confronts about all this to his mother, she slaps him and that was the peak to generate the the emotion of hate in the child Amerigo. Amerigo leaves her the very same night and catches the early morning train to go to his North Italian mother. She takes great care of him, nurture his piano skills and Amerigo becomes a world class Violin player.

The story is actually in a flashback where the great Violin player Amerigo moment before his concert receives a call from his north italian mother that his original south italian mother has just died. He however starts with his concert, playing the violin and remembering his childhood.... The Agony is he realises that fact that it was because of the great love his original impoverished south italian mother has for him that she treated her harshly so that he runs from her to his new mother and a good life. The old violinst returns to her home only to found that she is no more but her mother's love shall be with him till he dies.... The movie brought tears to my eyes on various occasions. Beautifully crafted movie, screenplay, direction, phenomenal background music and amazing acting by young Amerigo, his both moms.

Love from India.

19 Jan 2025.

I watched this movie expecting to see Italian children relocated after WWII. What I didn't expect what to see such a beautiful, touching, emotional movie about young Italian children who were temporarily moved to the north to live with loving families.

I loved this movie and have watched it several times since it is such a beautiful, touching post WWII movie.

I wish the end had showed Amerigo and his life in America, but it will forever be one of my most favorite and memorable post WWII movies. Brilliant acting, scenery, and casting. Bravo!

The boy who plays Americo does such an amazing job/- wonderful performance!