Divided We Fall

"Divided We Fall," a Czech movie about hard decisions and loyalty, not to one's country, but to yourself, is protrayed very well by director Jan Hrebejk. This movie, considered a black comedy, is more than just a true story being told; it shows how hard it was for one family to conseal a Jewish person in their home.

Csonger Kassai's character, David, escaped prison in Poland and returned to Czechoslovakia where he thought that someone could help him. He is taken in by his former employee (Bolek Polivka, who plays Josef), who is reluctant at first, but spends the next two years lying in order to save David, himself, and his wife, Marie (Anna Siskova). Throughout the film, there are many close calls. The worst one is that Marie told Horst (a worker for the Nazis, who always comes over uninvited) that she is pregnant (in order to save David), although everyone knows the couple want children, but have never had any. Although you think that the couple have the hardest part of keeping David a secret, it's hard for David, especially at the end where he has to show his face in order to save the people who have consealed him.

The setting of the house where Josef and Marie lived was a very good example of what most non-Jewish people would live in. It was small, but cosy just enough for two people. It also included a pantry which was turned into a shelter for David. Not many shots were taken out of the house and that ones that were taken of the street told the audience a lot, especially during the resistance. That scene showed people blowing up houses where collaborators lived, breaking glass windows, and running around the street chaotic. The cinematic techniques added much emotion to the story created on screen. Everytime there was a very important section or Nazis knocking on Josef's door, the cameras seemed to be slowing down just a little bit, as if to tell the audience "Okay, now it's the time to pay attention." Throughout the film, Hrebejk knew where to put the cameras in order to get the best take of a scene, which enhanced the view of watching the movie and added suspence to it.

The music suited the movie very nicely. By the type of music playing, you could determine what sort of scene was coming up, either fast and light...

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... it was his home, in order to save Josef and Marie from the Nazis searching their house. In that part, he did what was right. The perpetrators in the film would have been the Nazis who persecuted any family who had a Jew hiding with them. The victim was, of course, David. The collaborator was mainly Horst, but at time, Josef, when he really neede to be. The recuers were Josef and Marie, and at some times, Horst too. Some could say that, in order to save Josef, Marie and Horst, David was the rescuer. Simacek (played by Jiri Pecha0 would be also considered a rescuer since he never told the truth about Horst not being a real doctor. There seemed to be no bystanders in this film.

The name of the film, "Divided We Fall," is only part of the phrase that was used througout the whole film. "United we stand, divided we fall' was the quote used mostly by Horst when he wanted to uplift Josef's feelings. It seemed easy to stand united but when trouble occurs, divided is what most people will be. The film showed, especially at the end, that people could be united even through tough times and even though they feel like going against their conscience.