Original title: Il treno di Lenin
Running time: 200 minutes
Language: English
In 1917 Germany is struggling to deal with the hardships of fighting the World War 1 on two fronts. The top generals are eager to remove Russia from the equation and make a final push on the western front before United States will join the conflict. Doctor Parvus suggests them an unusual solution that could reach that target - after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II Russian Provisional Government was formed, which Germans were hoping would pull the Russia from the war. Since that didn’t happened Parvus suggested moving a revolutionary, Lenin, currently in exile in Switzerland, back to Russia, where he can change the political balance. Germans are reluctant to agree - Lenin would have to travel through Germany before reaching the Russia and the generals are afraid he could ignite the revolution inside the Germany, which would be catastrophic for the country on a verge of starvation. They agree on unusual solution - Lenin would travel on a "sealed" train that for the time of travel will be treated as extraterritorial as long as Lenin agrees not to make any speeches until he will reach the borders. Lenin takes with him other revolutionaries and they set out from Geneva to return to their homeland, but the travel will not be free of dangers for them.
Italian production telling the story inspired by true event - in 1917 Lenin travels through the Germany aboard the train to reach Russia and start the Soviet Revolution. With Ben Kingsley as Lenin and most of the film taking place aboard the train it is rather interesting drama. Of course the dialogues filled with political undertones can hardly be considered a light entertainment, but still it is decent production with a lot of effort put into recreating the trains and reality of 1917.
Our rating
5.6
/ 10
Film value
7
/ 10
Train scenes
3
/ 5
Adventure
2
/ 5
Scenery
2
/ 5
Lenin: The Train |
as Lenin
as Nadia
as Inessa Armand
as David Suljashvili
as Zinoviev
as von Planetz
as Radek
as Platten
as Parvus
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