TRAIN TO ZAKOPANE by Carol Kaufman segal

            In late 2014, I saw a new theatre production entitled Train To Zakopane written by Henry Jaglom.  The play was based on a true story about an incident in his father’s life.  It was a wonderful production with a heartbreaking tale and a marvelous cast headed by veteran actress Tanna Fredericks.  The play has been adapted into a film by Jaglom and is playing locally in movie theaters.

            The time is 1928. The train is crossing Poland on its way to Warsaw with four travelers sharing a compartment. They are Father Aexandrov (Stephen Howard), a former actress, Mme. Nadia Selmeczy (Kathy Arden), a young nurse (Katia Wampusyk (Tanna Frederick), and a successful Russian business man, Semyon Sapir (Mike Falkow).  They soon begin to converse with one another, 

            As the hours pass, Katia and Semyon find themselves attracted to each other.  Unfortunately, the conversation among the four of them brings up Jewish people, and Katia reveals her strong dislike for the Jews and her anti-Semitism.  Father Alexandrov is prone to agree with her opinions.  Semyon questions her about why she is so prejudiced against Jewish people, but he doesn’t reveal that he is Jewish to his travelling companions.

            The train continues on towards Warsaw but Katia and Semyon decide to get off at the stop in the resort area of Zakopane.  During their time in Zakopane, their romance blossoms, but Semyon is anguished over his deception.  He realizes he can’t continue his relationship with her without telling her the truth, which he finally does.  Though Katia is truly in love with Semyon, her anti-Semitism is too overpowering, and she takes the next train to Warsaw leaving him behind. 

            The story is very poignant and was a wonderful theater piece.  Somehow or another, the screen version does not offer the same sentiment that is felt when seeing it on stage even though all of the talented actors from the stage production performed their same roles in the film.  Is it seeing it in black and white?  Is it the roaring sound of the train in the first part of the film?  It is difficult to answer why the film does not match up to the original play production.

            Train to Zakopane is playing at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica, Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Laemmle Town Center 5 in Encino.  The running time is 153 Minutes.