Élet mindenáron

Hřebejk’s best film, which may well have arrived on the expectation of "it's going to be another Cosy Dens". But it’s not. It's a precisely filmed study of the characters of people whose lives are in danger. A study of belonging and the willingness to help one's fellow man, even when sticking one’s neck out. Mr. Jarchovský's characters are written very plastically, and Horst Prohaszka in the unforgettable slimy package of Jaroslav Dušek belongs to the Valhalla of famous characters from Czech film. Jiří Pecha, a “damn patriot", who, despite the relatively small space he gets, represents one of the key figures and has a great performance. But the praise goes to the "decent" couple played by Polívka and Šišková and, of course, their Jewish "ward" portrayed by Csongor Kassie. There is a bit of humor in this film, but there is much more of the tragedy, drama and empathy that characterized Cosy Dens. It's not just a war film, it's got something universal and timeless that's just a part of good films... (2004.01.30)

Hřebejk really outdid himself at the turn of the millennium, and so did Polívka, Dušek and Jarchovský. A beautiful and at the same time bitter depiction of heroic courage and the transformation of humanity during the darkest stage of our modern history, interwoven with a strong period atmosphere and a natural humour that does not make light of the situation as in Cozy Dens, but rather gives it a more urgent and witty touch. The actors excel, the script is brimming with changing emotions and the viewer is a direct player in everything, trapped for two hours in the claustrophobic grip of uncertainty, fear and small joys, threatened by snooping Nazis and a peculiarly insistent collaborator... When you say help, the first thing that comes to mind is this moving story. 95% (2011.05.10)

This is one of those Czech films that revisits the Second World War and does it in a way that can get to you. It's as if Hřebejk managed to do his best work before the end of the millennium. The film is mainly carried by Bolek Polívka, who excels as an actor, but it is others who make this story human and beautiful. (2017.10.13)