The Shocking True Story Behind 'The Children’s Train' – Now on Netflix

Netflix continues to expand its catalog of compelling dramas, and "The Children’s Train" is its latest highly anticipated addition. Based on the 2019 novel of the same name, this emotional film explores themes of love, loss, and resilience, set against the backdrop of post-war Italy. With a gripping storyline and a talented cast, the movie is already generating buzz among film enthusiasts.

Whether you're a history lover or simply enjoy heartfelt dramas, this Netflix release promises to be a must-watch.

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What is the ''The Children’s Train" about?

In its original language it is called “Il treno dei bambini”, and follows the story of Amerigo, a Neapolitan boy who is seven years old and has never left his city. He lives with Antonietta, his mother, both in poverty. After World War II (we are in 1946) his mother decides to send him to the north of the country in the hope that other people can give him a better life, and is taken in by Derna, a woman from a well-off family.

What was the "Treni Della Felicità" Initiative?

Following Italy’s collapse in World War II, the Italian Communist Party took control of the country and faced the daunting task of rebuilding a nation devastated by war. Under Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party, Italy had fought alongside Nazi Germany, only to suffer severe military and economic failures that led to its unconditional surrender. As a result, widespread poverty left countless families struggling to survive, with many dying from starvation and exposure. To address this crisis, the new government implemented drastic measures, including relocating impoverished children from the country’s poorest southern regions to wealthier northern families via train.

This initiative, known as Treni della Felicità or “Trains of Happiness,” had both positive and heartbreaking consequences. While it successfully saved the lives of tens of thousands of children, many were forcibly separated from their mothers and placed in unfamiliar households, some of which were unprepared or unwilling to care for them. The effort primarily focused on struggling regions such as Avellino, Milan, and Naples, and by the time the program ended in 1952, over 70,000 children had been sent north. Though the experience was traumatic for many, the initiative was widely praised by human rights organizations for its role in preventing unnecessary deaths and helping Italy recover from its post-war crisis.

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Meet the cast of "The Children’s Train"

The film has a very prominent cast and is directed by: Cristina Comencini, recognized for Italian auteur cinema.

• Barbara Ronchi as Derna
• Serena Rossi as Antonietta
• Christian Cervone as Amerigo (child)
• Stefano Accorsi as Amerigo (adult)
• Francesco Di Leva as Capa´e Ferro
• Antonia Truppo as Maddalena Criscuolo