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A daring comedy of ethics, Divided We Fall takes place during World War II in a small, Nazi-occupied town in Czechoslovakia. Josef and Maria, a childless couple, have withdrawn further and further from reality even as the war circles closer to their eerily quiet town. Josef's decision to sleep through a war he doesn't want to acknowledge is soon tested when the Jewish son of his former employer arrives in the middle of the night seeking refuge. David, the sole survivor from his family, escaped from a concentration camp in Poland and managed to return to the only place he knows in search of help. As they harbor David in their pantry over the next three years, Josef and Maria discover the depth of their resolve, forced to play the role of seeming collaborators in order to save themselves and David. Reminiscent more of Yugoslav filmmaker Emir Kustirica's devastating brand of black humor (Underground, Time of the Gypsies) than the saccharine Life Is Beautiful, to which it has been repeatedly compared, Divided We Fall achieves quite a lot, capturing the pervasive suspicion and betrayal of World War II through the unexpected guise of situation comedy. --Fionn Meade
Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Shane
Format:VHS Tape
This film takes place in Czechoslovakia during World War II. It deals with the realities of action and interaction between ordinary people living in extraordinary times. The main characters are forced to live and make choices they would not normally make in everyday life.
I really enjoyed this film as an expression of the Czech psyche in reconciling the devastating effects of WWII. The director clearly indicates that no one was innocent in those perilous times and that due to the force of external events, people did not behave properly, even when the war was over. This was a deep and moving story. Along with the other reviewers I found the ending a little to surreal, but maybe if I were a Czech it would make a little more sense. Other than that, a well told, well acted movie that is well worth watching.
I really enjoyed this film as an expression of the Czech psyche in reconciling the devastating effects of WWII. The director clearly indicates that no one was innocent in those perilous times and that due to the force of external events, people did not behave properly, even when the war was over. This was a deep and moving story. Along with the other reviewers I found the ending a little to surreal, but maybe if I were a Czech it would make a little more sense. Other than that, a well told, well acted movie that is well worth watching.
Format:DVD
"Divided We Fall" is a great Czech Republic film from 2000, starring Bolek Polivka, Anna Siskova, and Csongor Kassai. It earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. It desplicts a couple, Josef and Maria, from Czechoslavakia (now Czech Republic and Slavakia) who's devastated that they are unable to bear children. Josef begins losing all hope in life. Little do they know that their lives will become affected by the Holocaust. Suddenly, David, one of his ex-employee's family members and a lone survivor of a Polish massacre, enters their apartment in search of help. They risk their lives to hide him from the Nazis.
Through these intense chain of events, the hard-hitting impact is always present. Such powerful theme keeps audiences watching closely. This powerful film desplicts the Holocaust's hardships wonderfully, brutal and beyond heartbreaking. The emotion aspect builds as lives change forever, namely Josef's renewed life outlook. The unique camera effects in certain scenes dig deeper into the characers' surroundings. Such film quality gives the brilliant plot its viewing enjoyment up to the surprising conclusion. The performers add their own sense of emotional value to this, namely Polivka, Siskova, and Kassai. Kassai's captivating performance as David alone offers the unforgettable experience through his character's life threatening struggles.
"Divided We Fall" is yet another great Holocaust-based film that will continue pleasing its audiences. This will not be forgotten by any of them.
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Marvelous-I have never seen anything like this on the Holocaust. Human, warm, funny---wonderful presentation of people caught in this larger than life series of events.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
a test
Against all odds, and against our own fears, sometimes we find ourselves doing things we would not imagine doing. Read more
Published on Feb 6 2004 by EriKa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Divided...
MUSIME SI POMAHAT (We must help each other) is the original Czech title, which, I think, fit the film better. Read more
Published on Dec 30 2002 by Waldemar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful!
This is a terrific, warm, and beautiful film. It successfully examines a cross section of the Nazi occupation period in Eastern Europe. Read more
Published on Dec 29 2002 by "alenchik"
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredibly moving film...
A movie about the horrors of the Nazi regime seen not only from the Jewish perspective, but also from the perspective of non-Jews in conquered Tschechoslovakei. Read more
Published on Sep 2 2002
4.0 out of 5 stars
An underrated, Oscar-nominated black comedy
As an Oscar nominee for Foreign Films, this movie has been brushed aside by many critics. It is relatively unknown in comparison to the fanfare that tends to accompany an Oscar... Read more
Published on Aug 28 2002 by cdswatch
4.0 out of 5 stars
What a tangled web
WHAT: WWII German occupation of Czechoslovakia; middle aged childless couple attempt to conceal Jewish man in their apartment; to avoid suspicion they pretend to be Nazi... Read more
Published on Feb 8 2002 by Alan Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars
we must help each other-divided we fall
definitly recomend this movie to those, who likes dramas.
Published on Jan 15 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
Humanity greatly filmed
What a wonderful movie! We enjoyed the true signs of humanity throughout the movie. It is refreshing to see, how the struggle, just to survive during the cruel WWII is filmed in... Read more
Published on Jan 15 2002 by "webdak-com"
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