The Butcher of Prague (2011) Poster

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6/10
Dramatic and tragic film about the horrible fate that Nazis carried out on the peaceful village of Lidice
ma-cortes20 November 2020
The tragic story of the village of Lidice (Czechoslovakia), one of the small locations attempting to survive the cruel Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia . The film concerns lives of a few characters , troubles , distresses until the really awful finale in 1942 over Lidice , a village that had nothing to do with the assassination and it became the real spagecoat for it . Furthermore , dealing with The Butcher of Prague , General Reinhard Heydrich was appointed by Hitler to become the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia .As a squad of Czech expatriates : Jan Kubis, Josef Gabcik and Slovak soldiers are parachuted from England into Czchecoslovakia in order to assessinate the Czchecoslovakia General Governor, Reinhard Heydrich , the main architect behind the Final Solution and the Reich's third in command after Hitler and Himmler. This mision would change the face of Europe forever, being executed when Heydrich proceeded on his daily commute from his house to Prague castle.Then the ruthless Nazis retaliated with physical elimination of Lidice, including burning, destruction and massacre inhabitants .The Germans were unable to locate the attackers until the traitor Karel Curda was arrested by the Gestapo and gave the names of the team for a bounty, as they took refuge at an Orthodox church dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague.

The picture tells various interconnected stories winding up in the terrible final result . As a distressed family whose father is condemned to prison after a strong , heated discussion with his son that led his death, other story dealing with Reinhard Heydrich's killing committed in Prague on 27 May 1942 , executed by the resistence, the subsequent bloody retribution and an engaged Letter that was the principal cause to justify the brutal slaughter. This Reinhard Heydrich assassination has been shot in recent films as "Anthropoid" 2016 by Sean Ellis with Cillian Murphy , Jamie Dorman , Toby Jones , Charlotte Le Bon and Detlef Bothe who performed the killed Reinhard Heydrich and in "Lidice" reprised this character, in addition, "The Man with the Iron Heart" by Cedric Jiménez with Jason Clarke, Rosemund Pike, Jack O'Connell, Jack Reynor . And other oldest movies as the classic "Hangmen also die" 1943 by Fritz Lang , " Hitler's Madman" 1943 and "Atentat" 1964. In this "Lidice" 2011 the main starring results to be Karl Roden giving an acceptable acting as the disturbing father , who accidentally and drunk kills his son at a wedding celebration , being imprisoned and suffering a real sentiment of guilt , personal responsability and pain . This is the only familiar face in a large cast as Zuzana Fialova, Zuzana Bydzovska, Roman Luknar, Adamczyk, Jan Budar, mostly formed by good Czech actors but unknown in America and remaining Europe . Although the film is parcially disjointed it was professionally directed by Petr Nokolaev , being correctly based on facts.
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8/10
Fall of the innocent
jacek-5771430 November 2020
Never ever forget the Germans what they did to Europe ! Never ever trust them !
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7/10
This is a must-see if you have never before heard of what happened in "Lidice".
Erik_Surewaard16 December 2023
This movie is internationally known as "The Butcher of Prague", whereby events start somewhere in 1939. This when Prague was already under Nazi control (note: it was in March 1939 that the nazis took control of Sudetenland).

Based partially on true events, this movie is historically relevant in telling the story of what happened in a Czech village named "Lidice". If you are unaware of the facts that occured in this village during WW2, I suggest you watch this movie. To prevent giving away spoilers, I will only say that whilst writing this in 2023 - 80 years after the events occured - there are still newborn daughters that are given the name "Lidice". If this doesn't show how impressive the story is, I don't know what will be...

Before watching this movie, I personally had no clue what "Lidice" stood for. And this is pretty amazing seeing my interest in WW2 content, whereby I even curate a list of 200+ of the best movies and shows about WW2.

I have to admit that at some times, the movie lacks in pacing. I also think that the acting could have been better. Seeing what happens, I would also expect to see way more emotion in people. But after watching the complete movie, I consider this a minor thing. I was just too stunned to learn about the facts that occured in Lidice.

The props, vehicles, clothes, weapons etc. Were all excellent, making all scenes very convincing: I really had the impression watching WW2 events.

Overall, I think that this movie deserves a score of 6.5, resulting in a 7-star IMDb rating. However, this score does not take into account that I won't ever forget what "Lidice" stands for. Because if I had to score this movie on how it is able to show how cruel the Nazi regime was, this movie would deserve a score of 10/10.
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worth watching
ofratko23 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
What to say about this movie... Well it's worth watching every minute is important. The story of Lidice is important. It's the story of human cruelty and madness. And story of people who died in the village. One would think that people learned from the events of WW2, but the recent history shows us that they didn't.

The acting was superb. I'm not big fan of Zuzana Fialova but she was excellent in this. The camera was brilliant. The beauty of Czech countryside in contrast with the bestiality of genocide. The soundtrack was perfect for the movie. The movie is fitting memorial for the victims I would say it's like a Schindler's list. Everybody should see it at least once. One scene did break my heart. The scene with children and their fate.

It might prevent something like this happen in the future. Because man is easily seduced by evil. And what happened in Lidice was pure evil.
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9/10
Movie going beyond cheap pathos of 2nd world war tragery
kroupamichal12 February 2021
Movie intentionally does not follow heroic or pathetic line so common in many world war dramas. It builds story of human beings who even during horrible times live their lives with their flaws and strengths. It follows rather an unexpected main character who actually survive the Lidice tragedy in a prison. This creates much more humanized perspective without pathos. In the main role, Roden excels as always. Cinematography is great.
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9/10
I'll Be Depressed For A Month
suzishuz7516 March 2012
No wonder no one has reviewed this yet; Neither am I. Almost sorry I watched it.

Last few months I've been watching History Chanell; mostly WW2 Documentaries. Familiar with: Battles, Weapons used, Generals on Both sides, etc. etc. Also I've known about this Event since I was very young.

But this- film, excellently photographed, and Dramatized, showed details that are mostly absent in Documentaries.

Anyone 'can Google' Lidice and come up with a TON of stories, videos, etc. But this Dramatazation of the Event, and what came Before it, was too personal for me.

I feel Sick.

If you are interested in History, you may want to watch it.

Grateful it was NOT as Graphic as some Holocost Accounts; stopped watching Movies about: Holocost, Native American Genocide, Viet Nam War, American Slavery, etc.

Now I'm going to get numb.
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2/10
Worst movie about Lidice
v-5628915 March 2020
The story of Lidice is a very tragic story.. But somehow the movie completely missed the point.. I couldn't get connected with the characters. Somehow it felt like the life during the second world war was just normal.. Lives went on, like no occupation happened.. It got little bit more serious towards the end, but by that I was already so disgusted by the movie, that I didn't really pay full attention... For me this movie was not good at all
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10/10
10/10
cosmin74200013 July 2019
An excelent historical drama from Czech Republic about the massacre of Lidice.The war is not present in the movie.Also the movie is not composed from three parts is a single piece
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10/10
A masterpiece comparable to Schindler's List
rommel3015 November 2021
Lidice has a brilliant script, very good dramatic performance of the actors, poignant music, good photography, good use of vehicles, material and clothing used which seems spot on.
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