I would say under most circumstances the following is true: It is difficult to make a film that is poignant, funny, suspenseful, and inspirational. I would say it's impossible to make a film that is poignant, funny, suspenseful, and inspirational about World War II that takes place in a country under Nazi reign.
Yet the Czech film "Divided We Fall" from 2000 succeeds in this due to vivid, realistic characterizations, a powerful story, great acting, and marvelous direction. It's a film about desperate people in desperate times doing desperate things, and how some people's consciences won't allow them do the wrong thing.
Josef and Marie Cizek are a couple in Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia. The great heartbreak, at least in Marie's eyes, is that she cannot have a child. Josef feels it's better not to bring a child into the world they are currently living in. As his leg was broken in three places, he is now disabled.
Their neighbors, the Wieners, are taken from their home and deported to Theresienstadt and finally to a Polish camp (probably Auschwitz). Four years later, the son, David, manages to escape, is found by Josef and taken in. They hide him in a pantry in their home.
Unfortunately for Josef and Marie, they have a friend, Horst Prohazka, a Nazi collaborator who often visits - unannounced. He's attracted to Marie so he's a constant visitor.
In order to keep their secret, the Cizeks make some desperate choices, demonstrating the terrifying situation in which they are living. For one thing, Josef goes to work with Horst taking inventory of Jewish merchandise that has been taken, so that he himself looks like a collaborator. And that's the least of what he and his wife do.
The lesson here has to do with the heroism of ordinary, everyday people, and the weaknesses of ordinary, everyday people, both groups trying to survive. It shows us the power of forgiveness, along with an underlying religious symbolism.
There is some wonderful comedy to be had here, particularly when Josef is taught by Horst how to make his facial expressions blank so no one knows what he's thinking.
The last half hour of the film is harrowing, suspenseful, and glorious.
The cast - Bolek Polívka as Joseph, Anna Sisková as Marie, Csongor Kassai as David, and Jaroslav Dusek as Horst are fantastic. I mean, you just want to kill Horst, he's so annoying and awful. That's a good actor for you.
See this - you can rent it at Netflix or purchase it on DVD.
Yet the Czech film "Divided We Fall" from 2000 succeeds in this due to vivid, realistic characterizations, a powerful story, great acting, and marvelous direction. It's a film about desperate people in desperate times doing desperate things, and how some people's consciences won't allow them do the wrong thing.
Josef and Marie Cizek are a couple in Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia. The great heartbreak, at least in Marie's eyes, is that she cannot have a child. Josef feels it's better not to bring a child into the world they are currently living in. As his leg was broken in three places, he is now disabled.
Their neighbors, the Wieners, are taken from their home and deported to Theresienstadt and finally to a Polish camp (probably Auschwitz). Four years later, the son, David, manages to escape, is found by Josef and taken in. They hide him in a pantry in their home.
Unfortunately for Josef and Marie, they have a friend, Horst Prohazka, a Nazi collaborator who often visits - unannounced. He's attracted to Marie so he's a constant visitor.
In order to keep their secret, the Cizeks make some desperate choices, demonstrating the terrifying situation in which they are living. For one thing, Josef goes to work with Horst taking inventory of Jewish merchandise that has been taken, so that he himself looks like a collaborator. And that's the least of what he and his wife do.
The lesson here has to do with the heroism of ordinary, everyday people, and the weaknesses of ordinary, everyday people, both groups trying to survive. It shows us the power of forgiveness, along with an underlying religious symbolism.
There is some wonderful comedy to be had here, particularly when Josef is taught by Horst how to make his facial expressions blank so no one knows what he's thinking.
The last half hour of the film is harrowing, suspenseful, and glorious.
The cast - Bolek Polívka as Joseph, Anna Sisková as Marie, Csongor Kassai as David, and Jaroslav Dusek as Horst are fantastic. I mean, you just want to kill Horst, he's so annoying and awful. That's a good actor for you.
See this - you can rent it at Netflix or purchase it on DVD.