ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

kolikasp 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...

bapu_the_brave 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).

Jeff So, you're not sure why you should be interested in watching a Czech film entitled Up and Down. The following are ten reasons why you SHOULD spend the time and money to watch this film.10. It won the Czech Lion for Best Film Poster.If that's not a good reason to watch a movie, I'm not sure what is. I mean, just examine its beauty. Actually, maybe in the Czech Republic, they used a different poster….9. You've probably never seen a Czech film before, and this one is a heck of a lot better than the Oscar-nominated Zelary.This film actually has characters in whom you are genuinely interested, unlike Zelary. This film's plot doesn't descend in muddled nonsense, like Zelary's does. But, hey, this one Czech actor (Jan Triska), is in BOTH films. Beat that.8. Kristýna Boková is quite attractive.Just when you thought that only Americans could be beautiful. Yeah… 7. It's only 1 hour and 48 minutes long.Hey, if you don't like it, you've not even wasted two hours of your life. If you love it, watch it again, and you haven't even lost four hours.6. The end credits.No, seriously. I love the song played during them, and the cheap figurines add to the effect. In short, they allow you to contemplate what it was that you just saw.5. The film's ending.If only I could tell you about it without including a "spoiler."4. Jan Hrebejk.The direction isn't glamorous, but it doesn't need to be. His story is excellent, filled with vibrant characters caught up in a tragedy of hatred, need, and, surprisingly enough, comic occurrences.3. The film's interesting understanding of American influence.Perhaps what people not from America think of America is both more complex and more captivating than it seems at first glance. 2. You're not sure with whom to sympathize.This film is not clear-cut, which makes the characters more intriguing.1. Kentucky Fried Chicken.You'll understand if you ever see it, but this element of the movie is sheer genius on the part of the writers.The 7.4 from viewers is about right, making the 7.8 from critics a bit high, but I hope the above reasons will make you want to see it at least once.

ilpintl 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.