Character Relationship Map: Divided We Fall

Characters

• Josef Cízek (played by Bolek Polívka) — protagonist

  A Czech man who hides David in his apartment despite hating the Nazis. To protect his household, Josef accepts work evicting Czech Jews and is branded a collaborator by his neighbor. He risks his life...

• Marie Cizková (played by Anna Šišková) — supporting

  Josef's Czech wife, Marie initially resents the danger created by hiding David but also shows compassion toward him. She learns French from David and becomes emotionally close to him. After agreeing t...

• David Wiener (played by Csongor Kassai) — supporting

  A Jewish escapee from a concentration camp who is hidden by Josef and Marie in their apartment. David teaches Marie French and later helps create the appearance of a miraculous pregnancy. At the end,...

• Horst Prohaska (played by Jaroslav Dušek) — supporting

  A Czech-German Nazi collaborator and Josef's co-worker, married to a German woman. He brings food and gifts to Josef and Marie, abuses his authority, and attempts to rape Marie. Later, he redirects Ge...

• Captain (played by Richard Tesařík) — supporting

  A captain in the regular Czechoslovak Army who accompanies the partisans during the city's liberation. He doubts Josef's account and is prepared to shoot him when David cannot be found. David's sudden...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Josef Cízek → Captain (Power Prisoner) — Arrested collaborator facing execution by the resistance leader.
• Horst Prohaska → Josef Cízek (Professional Co-worker) — Nazi collaborator neighbor and Josef's workplace colleague.
• Josef Cízek → Marie Cizková (Family Husband) — Married couple navigating moral ambiguity and survival during occupation.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Horst Prohaska → David Wiener (Alliance Secret Keeper) — Nazi collaborator who secretly protects David during raids.
• Marie Cizková → Horst Prohaska (Conflict Victim) — Aggressive neighbor whose advances turn violent toward Marie.
• Josef Cízek → David Wiener (Alliance Host) — Host provides shelter to a Jewish refugee hiding in their closet.
• Marie Cizková → David Wiener (Social Foster Mother) — Guardian and refugee develop a maternal bond over time.

Story Analysis

Under occupation and liberation, a hidden refugee forces a household to confront fear, compromise, responsibility, and mercy.

Plot Progression

1. A Stranger Behind The Door — An escaped prisoner reaches a Czech household during the occupation. The couple hides him despite the danger created by their collaborator neighbor.
2. Protection At A Price — The household considers collaboration as a means of protection. Suspicion grows in the neighborhood while Marie develops sympathy for the hidden refugee.
3. The Impossible Pregnancy — Infertility and forced lodging create a new crisis. A morally disturbing plan is adopted to make Marie's pregnancy appear miraculous.
4. Collapse Of The Occupation — As Germany retreats, the collaborator secretly protects the household. Liberation instead brings revenge, chaos, and an urgent medical crisis.
5. Mercy In The Ruins — Josef is threatened by the new authorities but identifies the hiding collaborator as a doctor. David's testimony saves both the household and the former collaborator.