Horem pádem

This was probably the best film shown at the Vancouver International Film Festival, from a filmmaker I greatly admire. A complex, utterly compelling, completely accurate snapshot of contemporary Czech society, it has several story lines that converge at different points. The social fabric of a country dealing with rapid and enormous political, social,and economic change is stretched to tearing point as borne out by a sleazy pair of people smugglers and the various low-life petty criminals with whom they work; a university professor, his embittered wife and estranged adult son, and his long-term decades-younger mistress, who was the son's girlfriend at one time; a not-too-bright security guard—-a man who channels all his pent-up rage and frustration into brawls at soccer matches—-and his wife who has become mentally unhinged by her craving for a baby. Hrebejk has the stories intersect in an unforced manner, and examines the scourges of a society in the throes of rampant change: unemployment, corruption, crime, racism, unwanted immigrants, old-timers unwilling to come to terms with the new order, and the increasing divide between the rich and the poor. His bemused eye watches unflinchingly when some of his educated characters spew racist bile, or when the inarticulate white supremacist security guard is gentleness personified while caring for the brown baby that his barren wife buys with their life savings. Displaying his usual fine understanding of human nature, he demonstrates that no person is all good or all evil; even his most despicable characters perform uncharacteristic kind acts. With some laugh-out-loud scenes of sophisticated black humor on offer, this is social satire of the highest order.

This is type of well now czech movies... You know, lot of talking, lot of emotion, lot of talking, talking, and movie without typical action... But it is not action movie, it's movie about racism, and it is true movie, I mean the situation in the movie and in the Czech republic is same...

First time, when I saw this film, I was little disappointed, it's hard to explain, what was bad for me... Maybe I know, this film is just "so czech"... I wanna something new, when I'm watching movies, and that is just "one of many"... But when I saw it second time... Ou, OK, it is good film, really good film, not perfect, not different, just good czech film...

"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.

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.