I expected a hard film and I wasn't wrong. If you cannot digest suffering scenes this isn't for you. The story is well built and shows the countdown from the arrests until the arrival to the nightmare Ausschwitz. I was never boring because there were lot of moments where I have to think about. I still cannot believe that the humanity is able to do pains and kill so many innocent people but it's the truth. The history shows that the Jewish people have been always followed in the past and I can only pray for all the victims and children that have to die during the second World War. DER LETZTE ZUG has a great meaning for me and we should never forget what happened in the wars. All the actors played very strong and this movie should earn at least attention from all the audience. 7/10.
11 Reviews
not excellent director
gja82231 January 2013
The film is good, but somewhat sluggish. On the one hand something always happens, on the other — there's no sense of dynamics, nor feeling of hanging emotions. Music is not quite appropriate. It doesn't help enough, it's too subtle. Acting is good. May be not superb, but good enough to believe in characters. I suppose the main guilt for film being not excellent lies on director. For example, the scene with 'Ode to Joy' must have been made more dramatic, the acting there was (or could be) very good, so, the problem is in directing. May be my expectations were not right and the idea was to make one feel the ordinariness of evil. Nonetheless I want something more than just depiction of historical evil. And I see no answers, even no honestly stated questions. May be, though, my willing to get that questions is a good result of watching the film?
The setting makes it interesting
Horst_In_Translation20 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Der letzte Zug" or "The Last Train" is a German / Czech co-production from 2006, so this film has its 10th anniversary this year. The language used most in here is German, but others are heard too. The writer duo are Artur Brauner and Stephen Glantz and they may not be known to many I guess. The directors, however, are fairly famous, namely Joseph Vilsmaier and his now-deceased wife Dana Vávrová. The cast does not include too many well-known names, but German film buffs probably have come across Gedeon Burkhard and Sibel Kekilli already. With the topic in here, I must say I am a bit surprised this 2-hour film did not receive much more awards recognition outside the Bavarian Film Awards.
Almost the entire film is set in a train that rides to the concentration camp Auschwitz, so yes this is another German movie set during the dark days of World War II. I also feel that it did not really offer anything new that has not been shown in older movies in terms of the relationship between Nazis and Jews and the killings of course. But I am interested in the subject, so this was not a problem at all for me. What makes this film stand out though is the background. This is not really about Jews trying to flee from Nazis in ghettos or trying to break free out of the camps. This is in-between, namely in the train and I think they did a good job here at finding a healthy balance in terms of telling stories and letting us get to know some characters while not focusing on others. It's a fine line, but Vilsmaier is walking it successfully here. Yes there are moments of heroism and tragedy that did not always feel authentic, but it's also difficult not to include these in a film with this topic and runtime. And being a huge Kekilli fan, I may also be a bit biased. But I think for a film over 120 minutes, there are really not many lengths in here and I would call it a success. Go see it if you are interested in German history of the 20th century.
Almost the entire film is set in a train that rides to the concentration camp Auschwitz, so yes this is another German movie set during the dark days of World War II. I also feel that it did not really offer anything new that has not been shown in older movies in terms of the relationship between Nazis and Jews and the killings of course. But I am interested in the subject, so this was not a problem at all for me. What makes this film stand out though is the background. This is not really about Jews trying to flee from Nazis in ghettos or trying to break free out of the camps. This is in-between, namely in the train and I think they did a good job here at finding a healthy balance in terms of telling stories and letting us get to know some characters while not focusing on others. It's a fine line, but Vilsmaier is walking it successfully here. Yes there are moments of heroism and tragedy that did not always feel authentic, but it's also difficult not to include these in a film with this topic and runtime. And being a huge Kekilli fan, I may also be a bit biased. But I think for a film over 120 minutes, there are really not many lengths in here and I would call it a success. Go see it if you are interested in German history of the 20th century.
They succeeded well in portraying the pain, hunger and extreme suffering in the death transports
Erik_Surewaard5 August 2023
I do not think it is easy to make a movie that takes place for a large part in a railway wagon. And that's not a passenger coach, but a livestock wagon as was used by the SS to transport people - mostly jewish - to the concentration camps.
I also assume that each wagon will have its own stories, which are mostly about pain, hunger and death.
So I think it is a daring enterprise to produce a movie about exactly those things! Of course, it was impossible to fully load the wagon with people as happened in reality. Over 80 people would literally be pushed onto each other after which the door was closed. This is not what you see in this movie: i.e. There seems to be ample space.
But aside from that, I think they succeeded in portraying a grim atmosphere of how 'life' was during the few days locked up in such a wagon. Or maybe I should say 'death', because the conditions - often without food and water - were difficult to survive for the frail.
Overall, I think this movie is important because it will give the viewer an idea of those inhumane transports. It is an important part of history and it is a signal of how evil people can be to its own kind.
Concluding, I think this movie deserves a score of 7.1/10, making it a 7-star IMDb rating.
I also assume that each wagon will have its own stories, which are mostly about pain, hunger and death.
So I think it is a daring enterprise to produce a movie about exactly those things! Of course, it was impossible to fully load the wagon with people as happened in reality. Over 80 people would literally be pushed onto each other after which the door was closed. This is not what you see in this movie: i.e. There seems to be ample space.
But aside from that, I think they succeeded in portraying a grim atmosphere of how 'life' was during the few days locked up in such a wagon. Or maybe I should say 'death', because the conditions - often without food and water - were difficult to survive for the frail.
Overall, I think this movie is important because it will give the viewer an idea of those inhumane transports. It is an important part of history and it is a signal of how evil people can be to its own kind.
Concluding, I think this movie deserves a score of 7.1/10, making it a 7-star IMDb rating.
Its Relative Anonymity Does it Justice
sascharasin6 November 2016
This is by far the best Holocaust related movie of them all. That it is basically unheard of in the English speaking world is both an absolute travesty, and in some ways - very befitting the content of the movie.
The acting is - without exception - well above par. The cinematography superbly Oscar worthy and the direction flawless.
But this is a HARD movie to watch - make no mistake about it. It is utterly devastating; I had to turn it off twice and compose myself before watching it again. That makes this, at least in my books, one of the bravest takes on this horrific period in history.
My only singular criticism would be that the movie is not quite claustrophobic enough - the reality of the transportation trains by all accounts is that there was not even enough room to sit down - they had the carriages loaded so fully. But this is the last train to Auschwitz and populated with less than 700 Jews - so that may explain it. The transition from oppressed ghetto Jew to death camp deportee is very real and you are led through the journey in utter terror. You hope against hope for a happy ending - but as we all know - the journey to the death camp was just the beginning of the end for almost all the Jews who were sent to Auschwitz. It's a must watch film - even if for no other reason that to keep alive that awful stain on mankind lest it ever happens again - if you do nothing else in your life ever, watch this movie. I do not want to do any spoilers - but I would STRONGLY caution parents of very young children who might watch this movie. No pain is spared and there are some harrowing scenes, some truly truly harrowing scenes.
I gave this the full ten for many reasons - but mostly because it is the best movie I have seen since "Let the Right One In" about 20 years ago.
The acting is - without exception - well above par. The cinematography superbly Oscar worthy and the direction flawless.
But this is a HARD movie to watch - make no mistake about it. It is utterly devastating; I had to turn it off twice and compose myself before watching it again. That makes this, at least in my books, one of the bravest takes on this horrific period in history.
My only singular criticism would be that the movie is not quite claustrophobic enough - the reality of the transportation trains by all accounts is that there was not even enough room to sit down - they had the carriages loaded so fully. But this is the last train to Auschwitz and populated with less than 700 Jews - so that may explain it. The transition from oppressed ghetto Jew to death camp deportee is very real and you are led through the journey in utter terror. You hope against hope for a happy ending - but as we all know - the journey to the death camp was just the beginning of the end for almost all the Jews who were sent to Auschwitz. It's a must watch film - even if for no other reason that to keep alive that awful stain on mankind lest it ever happens again - if you do nothing else in your life ever, watch this movie. I do not want to do any spoilers - but I would STRONGLY caution parents of very young children who might watch this movie. No pain is spared and there are some harrowing scenes, some truly truly harrowing scenes.
I gave this the full ten for many reasons - but mostly because it is the best movie I have seen since "Let the Right One In" about 20 years ago.
excellent, moving
cosmicg_127 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Basically it's just a train ride but you can feel the despair and increasing hopelessness people in there are facing on that last train that will eventually take them to Auschwitz and certain death. The acting of everyone is very convincing (esp. Lena Beyerling, Gedeon Burkhard and Sibell Kekilli). Even though some things that happen on the train are left to your imagination you end up having a pretty realistic idea (minus the smell, thirst, hunger, and the corpses) of how it must have been like inside those wagons - and still it's unbelievable. Seeing the ashes of dead Jews falling like snow, accompanied by Beethoven ('To joy') gives you the chills. The story might not be based on real characters but it's as close to the truth as it gets. Making the movie was a bold move, but it was worth making. Go see this movie, you won't regret it.
The Best Nazi Atrocities Depiction next to The Pianist and Shindler
TobyRossTLV13 March 2012
Having seen so many of these movies (one can never get enough of the Nazi nightmare can it), I must say that this one hits particularly hard. In an attempt to rid Berlin of all Jews the vary last of them are summoned up and uploaded to a train that is Auschwitz bound (Question- if you are a Jew in it's 1943 in Berlin (For God's sake, Hitler was just a few block away) what are you doing living in the open like everything was normal? why aren't you hiding or better yet why didn't you leave and go somewhere safe). This is not just a holocaust film, it is much more then that, it is a character study of both Jews, Ukrainians, Nazis and "Good Germans" all encased in a story that although is hard to watch is a piece of art that will make you sad and pensive.
Utter Masterpiece
malcslusby6 January 2017
This is a very difficult movie to watch. I had to turn it off more than once to compose myself and remind myself that although this is reality - I am just watching a movie.
The acting is utterly utterly flawless. The subject matter harrowing and poignant. The script is without equal. I really feel this movie makes other masterpieces like Schindler's List pale by comparison. It's hard to try and review something like this - but I think that it is a largely unnoticed movie is shameful.
I would recommend this to anyone and part of me feels Europe would fair better if it abolished the laws prohibiting revisionism and made this movie mandatory school viewing instead.
Cannot rate it highly enough. An utterly amazing movie with zero faults.
The acting is utterly utterly flawless. The subject matter harrowing and poignant. The script is without equal. I really feel this movie makes other masterpieces like Schindler's List pale by comparison. It's hard to try and review something like this - but I think that it is a largely unnoticed movie is shameful.
I would recommend this to anyone and part of me feels Europe would fair better if it abolished the laws prohibiting revisionism and made this movie mandatory school viewing instead.
Cannot rate it highly enough. An utterly amazing movie with zero faults.
4 train crews, one loco. one inhumane job...
zn1-58-14776630 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
688 jews are herded in to boxcars to rid berlin of jews....its as raw as it comes...100 humans of all ages struggle to survive..life, death, courage. I put this film up with the same cadence of realism as Schindlers List...this creation is made even more realistic by the lack of english spoken..not a film for children. this is one of them films i would recommend be watched in history lesson in secondary education...a superb ensemble have created a masterpiece in my opinion..the portrayal of Nina is amazingly done by Lena Beyerling an actress who i hope is now doing great things...just watch...reflect...we today are very very lucky humans..this production has reinforced that to me today..
Stunning war film..!
kamalbeeee30 March 2021
A group of jews taken to concentration camp by train..
Really its very hurting to watch this movie because each and every people suffered in the train cabin...they got thirsty and hungry but germans wont feed them anything..
Most of all starve to death even babies also..
Very raw film without hide anything...
Must watch movie for realize that we are living in heaven...
Superb Holocaust Drama
jollyjumpup21 November 2021
Whether you're a WW2 completist, someone with interest in the Holocaust or Nazi history, or simply someone who appreciates a well-told if hard-hitting movie, this is a gem.
The casting is perfect and the acting sublime. There are even a few babies in the mix, and their behavior is just as convincing as the most seasoned actors on the train. The depiction of the hellish journey is highly authentic, conveying in detail the physical hardship and growing despair as reality sinks in and the last vestiges of hope slip away.
Considering the large number of Jews on the train, the director efficiently manages to establish strong personal sympathy for many. The other characters are historically appropriate and fair in their depictions.
The Polish engineers are conflicted, one tempted to help the suffering passengers, the other shutting that idea down out of fear for his own safety.
The Germans running the transport are as nasty as any Nazis ever depicted in the cinema. Their violence is shocking and appalling, as are the actions of their Ukrainian SS collaborators. But again, balance is offered in a scene involving German soldiers who intervene to halt a bout of sadistic torment.
Like "Hotel Rwanda" and "Come and See" this film stands as an important reminder of the depths of depravity possible when mob mentality is harnessed in the cause of evil. With its high production values and emotional accessibility, it would be a great aid for teachers of Holocaust history.
The casting is perfect and the acting sublime. There are even a few babies in the mix, and their behavior is just as convincing as the most seasoned actors on the train. The depiction of the hellish journey is highly authentic, conveying in detail the physical hardship and growing despair as reality sinks in and the last vestiges of hope slip away.
Considering the large number of Jews on the train, the director efficiently manages to establish strong personal sympathy for many. The other characters are historically appropriate and fair in their depictions.
The Polish engineers are conflicted, one tempted to help the suffering passengers, the other shutting that idea down out of fear for his own safety.
The Germans running the transport are as nasty as any Nazis ever depicted in the cinema. Their violence is shocking and appalling, as are the actions of their Ukrainian SS collaborators. But again, balance is offered in a scene involving German soldiers who intervene to halt a bout of sadistic torment.
Like "Hotel Rwanda" and "Come and See" this film stands as an important reminder of the depths of depravity possible when mob mentality is harnessed in the cause of evil. With its high production values and emotional accessibility, it would be a great aid for teachers of Holocaust history.
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