Horem pádem

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).

Drama with surprisingly funny moments. This movie pretty accurately describes various layers of contemporary Czech society. From lowlifes to intellectuals, from immigrants to emigrants. Acting on the whole is very good and adds further realism to the well written characters. Director's Hrebejk's specialty after all are human interactions. Plot is a complicated one and involves racism, emotional exhaustion and solitude, fear, greed and hope. There are many life-like stories in this movie which unexpectedly intertwine as it happens in real life society. Quality camera work was done by senior Czech cinematographer Jan Malir. Moral of the film: No decision in life is made and nothing happens without affecting sooner or later somebody else. Crucial question - can it be understood by a non Czech audience? Perhaps, but I would recommend second viewing, then it will offer more than just entertainment.

"Horem pádem", stood up well to a second viewing, from DVD, a year later. I'd agree with the most favorable comments of others here. I'd add that the treatment of immigration, nativity, nationalism and personal identify, as it intersects with 4 fractured families, is witty, tender, and humane. Even some of the native criminal class gets an opportunity to make claims for justice, even if the latter is satirized.

Did anyone mention the exceptional use of music, and how imaginatively the film is lit and shot? A team of artists at the top of its game collaborated on this film.

I share the earlier reviews posted here except for the one that calls the movie, script, etc. "stupid". The movie is unusual when compared to what an American would consider the "norm". It does not have a main story line, a hero or a heroine, but still manages a rather heroic act to address sensitive and uncomfortable issues of contemporary Czech society without apologies and in a very realistic way. It does this by presenting several unrelated stories that are nevertheless intervowen, a technique that was reminiscent of an earlier Czech movie called "Buttoners" (knoflikari). The movie is strangely touching, but I found it also pretty depressing, forcing the viewer to contemplate the tremendous changes due to changing demographics that Europe in general, and Czech Republic in particular, are experiencing.