The Death Train

1998· 64 min★ 7.1· Documentary

Producer and Emmy-winning director Tom Roberts (“Mother Russia’s Children”) recounts the horrors of Joseph Stalin’s infamous plan to build a railroad in the Arctic like a masterfully told ghost story, complete with eerie film footage and chilling interviews with a few who lived through the experience. More artful than a Ken Burns-style documentary, this compelling but emotionally draining story is sure to draw praise for its historical value. Ultimately, however, its unrelenting bleakness dulls some of its impact.