In German-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II, a young couple risks their lives to provide shelter to a Jewish neighbor only to discover that he alone can give them the security they need to keep the encroaching Nazis at bay.
Genre: Foreign Film – Other
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 27-NOV-2001
Media Type: DVDA 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 Josef and Maria, a childless couple, have withdrawn further and further from reality even as the war circles closer to their eerily quiet town.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
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December 22, 2010
#1
We must help each other,
I don’t think that “Divided we fall” was such a good choice of translation of this movie’s name. I personally come from Slovakia, the neighboring country to the Czech Republic, and we understand each other languages – and as my title says, the true meaning is “We must help each other”. And that’s what is the movie about – about people, their will to help each other, the strenght and weakness of the human character. The DVD is already out in Europe and what I can say is that the movie hasn’t lost any of it’s charm with the transfer to the DVD. However, as for Europe usual, the DVD had just little to no extras, because of all the different languages they have to pack on the DVD. We will see, if the US-version is better. Of course, you will be able to check it, just look a little bit higher on your screen, there you’ll find it … As I said, we must help each other. Didn’t I help you now?
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|December 22, 2010
#2
Gripping Story of the Holocaust,
“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.
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|December 22, 2010
#3
Delightful!,
This is a terrific, warm, and beautiful film. It successfully examines a cross section of the Nazi occupation period in Eastern Europe. It lovingly narrates the WWII experience of a handful of seemingly ordinary people. It elaborates on the troubled evolution of the complex relationship between people and things Czech, German and Jewish. It is endearing and uplfiting. The film subtly confronts and employs some of the stereotyped character types of the war and occupation era. But does so only to undermine and overturn them eventually, ever so gently. “Divided We Fall” is immensely funny in a traditionally Czech bittersweet manner. The entire cast is wonderful. The quirky soundtrack complements the film very well. Photography makes more than excellent use of dreamy natural light, and the movie is a visual joy as well. A highly recommended cinematic pleasure overall!
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