Insight Just when you think you've seen it all, along comes an absolute bolter that has you rethinking everything you've already considered or written about film. "Divided We Fall" is one film that falls right into that category of an absolute bolter. Nominated for the 2001 Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film section it is easy to see why this film attracted such critical acclaim. Based on a true story "Divided We Fall" implies much of the harsh brutallity that people suffered during World War 2 without actually showing it. Instead "Divided We Fall" relies on the tense, strained, interaction between the Germans, their collaborators and those citizens who suffered so terribly at their hands. "Divided We Fall" starts modestly and builds a solid story around a solid cast. Like many films involving tragedy or any sort of Jewish element, "Divided We Fall" has wry moments of humour, some coming at the blackest of moments the characters have to face. This is also a film about survival on all sides. The accused become saviours while the despised become heroes as the story builds to an unexpected end. In essence "Divided We Fall" is a salute to the forces within mankind that in our greatest moments of need can drive us to do that which we would never consider under lesser circumstances. Within this story, everyone can become a hero, even if they don't want to be. It takes a period full of suffering, loss, tragedy and indignity and replaces the worse traits of mankind with dignity, character, integrity, forgiveness, joy and all the best that the human spirit can muster in times of terrible need. That is the triumph of "Divided We Fall". The Story Life in Czechoslovakia is idyllic for Josef, David and Horst prior to WW2. Their roots are different. David is jewish, Josef a Czech national and Horst a Czech-German. When the war reaches their town things will change. David and his family are shipped out. Horst will become a collaborator for the German invaders and Josef is housebound after breaking his leg in three places. He and wife Marie are childless. She believes in miracles but when will one come along that will produce a child for them. Horst visits them regularly and though he is abbrassive they all get along well. He provides them with treats, items that normally are unobtainable such as cigarettes, coffee and pork. He has hidden desires for Marie. When Daid escapes the germans and returns to his home no-one is prepared to assist him. Josef and Marie take him in and hide him in a secret cellar built before the war. Finally Horst makes his move on Marie. He treats her to presents and the offer of a picnic with all the trappings. Much to his dismay, she refuses his advances. The spurned Horst uses his influence in an attempt to have Joef and Marie moved from their treasured house. They foil him by claiming that Marie is pregnant. Marie is unaware that Josef has a problem. He has just had a sperm test and learnt that he is infertile. Somehow they must produce a child or they will perish. The deed of life is left to their hidden fugative David. Will their scheme succeed? The beauty and joy of "Divided We Fall" is in its fabulous ending where much is revealed about the real worth of all these marvellous characters. Laugh or cry "Divided We Fall" is certainly a marvellous celebratory movie. Go see it!! It's the best way to spend a couple of hours enjoying the simple pleasures of life. The Verdict "A marvellous story that focus's on the good points of human endevour and the spirit with us all. The characters melt into the screen convincinging us that they are real. We follow their struggles with sympathy and joy hoping they will survive against all that is thrown against them. "Divided We Fall" showcases the best in foreign film." The Critics

"A rewarding, courageous and beautiful work." Jane Sumner DALLAS MORNING NEWS "How refreshing to find a film set in the Second World War that avoids the usual pitfall of painting characters in black-and-white." Rebort IOFILM CO UK "An accomplished, insightful, touching film." Steven Rosen DENVER POST "Shows that it's not only possible to make a spine-tingling World War II saga without bloodshed, but also to use such stories to examine the agonizing-but-necessary values of conscience, loyalty and forgiveness." Gene Seymour NEWSDAY "Just when you think you've seen all the World War II films you can handle, one comes along that leaves you in awe." Rachel Gordon FILMCRITIC.COM "A tender and heartbreakingly lovely story of risk and sacrifice in the shadow of the terror." Sean Axmaker SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "Brings to vivid life the tribulations and even the joys of normal people whose loyalties are tested in abnormal times." Harvey S Karten COMPUSERVE "A lovely movie, one that allows its characters unexpected spurts of growth and regression, darkness and grace." Richard Schickel TIME MAGAZINE "Gripping, thrilling and even funny, without sacrificing complexity." Andy Klein NEW TIMES LOS ANGELES "A provocative Holocaust drama saturated with tension and streaked with dark comedy." Mark Halverson SACRAMENTO NEWS & REVIEW "The performances pull us into the humanity and indignity of it all." Joe Baltake SACRAMENTO BEE "The players perfectly inhabit their characters; nobody seems to be actually acting." Robert W. Butler, KANSAS CITY STAR "An entertaining and provocative tale of ordinary people who suddenly find themselves heroes." Erica Abeel FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL "Director Jan Hrebejk gives it a provocative and daring twist, perching farcical mischief, wit, and pragmatism on the edge of the Holocaust." Jay Carr BOSTON GLOBE "Confronts an incendiary topic head-on with grace, style, compassion and exquisitely practical wit." Eddie Cockrell VARIETY "Has the literary richness, depth of character and tone that such a morally difficult, powerful narrative requires." Robert K Elder CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The Cast

	Bolek Polívka Csongor Kassai Jaroslav Dusek Anna Sisková Jirí Pecha Martin Huba Simona Stasová Vladimir Marek Jirí Kodet Richard Tesarík		... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...		Josef Cizek David Wiener Horst Prohaska Marie Cizková Frantisek Simacek Dr Albrecht Kepk Libuse Simácková SS Officer Dr Fischer Captain

Directed by Jan Hrebejk Run Time 117 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] ©2002 - Sony Classics - All Rights Reserved