Divided We Fall (2000)
"Musíme si pomáhat" (original title)

In Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia, a childless couple agree to hide a Jewish friend at great personal risk of discovery and execution.

Director:

Jan Hrebejk

Writers:

Jan Hrebejk, Petr Jarchovský (screenplay),

Stars:

Bolek Polívka, Anna Sisková, Csongor Kassai

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bolek Polívka	...	Josef Cízek
Anna Sisková	...	Marie Cizková
Csongor Kassai	...	David Wiener
Jaroslav Dusek	...	Horst Prohaska
Martin Huba	...	Dr. Albrecht Kepke
Jirí Pecha	...	Frantisek Simácek
Simona Stasová	...	Libuse Simácková
Vladimir Marek	...	SS Officer (as Vladimír Marek)
Richard Tesarík	...	Captain
Karel Hermánek	...	Captain
Otto Sevcík	...	SS Offcier
Jirí Kodet	...	Dr. Fischer-Rybáf
Petr Knotek
Helena Neuwirthová
Nelly Kocarjan

Storyline

In World War II Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia, a childless couple, Josef and Marie Cizek, can only watch while the Jewish family of their employers, the Wieners, are first removed from their own home to a spare room in their house by the Nazis, then removed to the far off facility of Thierenstadt. Years later, young David Wiener, the sole surviving member of that family has managed to escape and make it to the Cizeks. Although fully aware of the extreme danger of harbouring a Jew in the Third Reich, the Cizek's can not permit themselves to leave David to certain death and agree to hide him. However, this decision leads to terrible danger of discovery by the Nazis and especially their friend and Nazi collaborator, Horst Prohazka, who is attracted to Marie. With desperate cleverness and luck, the Cizeks struggle to keep the secret, even when Horst begins to suspect. In doing so, they find themselves making unorthodox choices and learning about the true nature of the people around them.

---

Plot Keywords:

nazi | czechoslovakia | jewish | escape | collaborator | 

---

Taglines:

In a war-torn village, one couple makes the ultimate sacrifice to save another.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Czech TV - Telexport Musíme si pomáhat

Country:

Czech Republic

Language:

German Czech

Release Date:

16 March 2000 (Czech Republic)

Also Known As:

Divided We Fall

Filming Locations:

Jaromer, Czech Republic

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$28,583 (USA) (8 June 2001)

Gross:

$1,320,112 (USA) (21 December 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ceská Televize, Total HelpArt T.H.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Czech Republic's official submission to 73rd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 2001.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

User Reviews

Not for the simple minded

Without doubt, one of the best films you'll see in your lifetime.

At the start, there is a car being driven in the countryside. The car stops, and three men get out to pee. Two of them play a little prank on the chauffer. In the next scene, the chauffer is in charge, and the family of the boy who played the prank (the bosses who happened to be Jewish) are being evicted of their big house.

And this is just a very minor aspect of the film. There are selfish people, and there are selfless people in this film, and more often than not they are the same people. Of course, those who want things spelled out for them would like to know if Josef makes the decision that is central to the plot to save his skin, to save David's, or to make his wife (who wants to have children) happy.

This is not a Hollywood film. I like American movies, most of the time. They are great for entertainment, but if I want something for my mind and my soul, something that can make me laugh, cry, and think, then this is the kind of movie I want.