Haut et bas

"Up and Down" presents a portrait of a country in transition. Director Jan Hrebejk is commenting on what he is seeing around him in the Czech Republic. After years of Soviet domination, the country has turned into a democracy where the old norms and the new reality clash with one another to produce an uncertain time in the country.

There are basically three stories going on in the film. There is the Horecky family, who is in crisis. Then there is the young couple, unable to have children, and finally, we have the petty criminals intent in getting into all sorts of crime to further their interests.

In a way, the film is a microcosm of a society that is adapting itself to the present reality of a free economy. Unfortunately, things appear to be chaotic as we take a look at the film. The old ideas and the new ones are in direct opposition. The older generation doesn't like what their country is being turned into. They watch in horror how all kinds of foreigners are invading their land, which seem to be a global problem, as illegal aliens want a piece of the capitalist pie.

In a way, Martin, the returning son of Professor Horecky, sees a changed society, but wants no part of what he encounters. Having lived in Australia for over twenty years, he has a different attitude and will not stay to participate in what will happen. At the same time, his coming back opens many wounds he thought were healed by now.

For Frantisch and Miluska, their reality is different. She wants to have children and he can't give them to her. She will do anything in order to get a baby. Miluska even resorts to buy the infant that some smugglers find in their truck. Even in this new society, xenophobia is present in the form of the captain of the football fan club that discovers that the baby is not white.

One has to commend the director for presenting his ideas in such an interesting way. The cast is excellent under Mr. Hrebejk's direction. The only sour note to the total enjoyment of the film is that the print recently shown locally, has a yellowish tint and the subtitles are, for the most part, unreadable, which is a shame. Mr. Hrebejk next offering will be eagerly anticipated.

This is an excellent movie with engrossing and intricate subplots. I wanted to find a movie that fit well with my cultural focus, and this movie does a great job highlighting the complexities surrounding Czech identity post-Communism, and how it sometimes clashes with immigration and globalization. All of the subplots fit together at the end and it will surprise you. Loved the humanness of it all.

The director Jan Hrebejk tried to make a film in the style of "Magnolia" by PTA...But...Up and down is just a some kind of derivation of Magnolia for average viewers from Czech republic. The script by Peter Jarchovský is stupid, boring, full of vulgarisms and directing is stupid too.

By the way - Director of photography used very strange photo-filters (e.g. extremely yellow).

The good side of this movie is acting. All actors are very good, especially Jaroslav Dusek or Jiri Machacek

Up and down is a comedy, but it isn't any piece of humor in there. Up and down is a drama too, but without any dramatic scenes...

No Up..only down...Sorry, fans of Hrebejk...

A genial tragicomedy= HOREM PÁDEM. A couple of clues, not coheretive at the first look, matched at the end that is HOREM PÁDEM. The situation humor brings you a lot of laugh, although you know that it is not humor, it is the cruel reality. A mother, who wants to have a child, but she cannot, because her husband, a football/soccer fan is in condition. But he tries, until the end when he sees that his trying was useless. The second clue is about thieves and transferors through the borders; the third one about a tossed family. You would not believe how this will fit together. Plus wonderful actor performances and nice settings. Unbelievable dialogues; with one sentence: you must watch HOREM PÁDEM!!!

Up and Down has a subtle mix of stories from several strata of modern Czech life. Those who fled the communist takeover, those who stayed and suffered; those who're rising and those mired; those haunted by their past and those who ignore it. Each aspect of the story is given weight and the actors shine in their individual moments. The direction shows a love of the Czech people and republic without shying away from their darker selves.

A Czech co-worker of my spouse said, "I love this movie. And it's completely realistic."

Those who like Mike Leigh will enjoy this film and those who enjoy this film should check out Mr. Leigh's work (perhaps especially "Secrets and Lies).