Divided We Fall
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anna Sisková, Bolek Polívka, Csongor Kassai, Jaroslav Dusek, Martin HubaBrand: POLIVKA,BOLEK
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Czech (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 117 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-11-27
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Divided We Fall
Movie Review: A unique Holocaust drama infused with black humor
Summary: 5 Stars
"Divided We Fall" is a unique Holocaust drama in that the focus is not on the horrors of the Holocaust such as the mass deportations, the barbaric conditions of the death camps, etc. Instead, it focuses on a pair of ordinary people, Gentiles who are compelled to lead abnormal lives under abnormal circumstances. Josef and Marie Cizek (Boleslav Polivka and Anna Siskova) are an ordinary married couple living in occupied Czechoslovakia during WW II. Josef is a regular guy who does not really want to face up to the realities of war, and the fact that his young and beautiful wife is desperate to have children, something they haven't been able to realize for many years. Things take a drastic turn one day when the Jewish son of Josef's former employer comes to him for shelter, having recently escaped a death camp in Poland and lost all of his family. Josef takes him in without really giving thought to the repercussions and therein begins the real drama. Josef and Marie hide David Wiener (Csongor Kassai) in their pantry, but realize that the situation is immensely risky, especially given the frequent and impromptu visits by Josef's friend, Horst (Jaroslav Dusek) who also happens to be a Nazi collaborator, and who is obsessed with Marie. To avert suspicion, Josef decides to take up Horst on a job offer which requires them to assist the Nazis in confiscating Jewish property which helps them for a while, though the rest of the neighborhood looks upon them as Nazi collaborators.
What makes this movie engaging and interesting is the interplay of human relationships - that between Josef and Marie, Marie and David, Josef & Horst, and Horst and Marie, among others. The comical and many times tense/suspenseful situations seem altogether credible under the assured direction of Jan Hrebejk - one can actually imagine being in such situations, they are compellingly portrayed on screen. Marie's character as played by Anna Siskova elicits genuine empathy from the viewer, and whilst Josef is not exactly a likable character, one can't help feeling sorry for the impossible situation he finds himself in and his character makes a nice contrast to that of his greasy, and venal friend Horst, who is the epitome of the fawning and opportunistic collaborator.
The humor in this drama is dark and at times morbid, but it is not misplaced - in fact, it is used effectively to explain the insidious nature of the Nazis and how the policies of the Third Reich as carried out in occupied territories had a profound impact not only on the Jews but also on the rest of the population. Life under the Nazis was far from ordinary, despite their efforts to portray otherwise, and "Divided We Fall" gives viewers a glimpse of how normal people are driven to extremes under extraordinary circumstances. The feature is rated PG-13 (with some scenes of violence and suggested sex).The feature is in Czech, with the option of English subtitles (which I thought was rather well-done and not stilted as in some subtitled productions). There are no real bonus features worth mentioning. On the whole though, this is a compelling and unique Holocaust drama that is well worth the watch for those who are interested in the genre.
Summary of Divided We Fall
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: DVD
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