The Shop on Main Street (1965)
"Obchod na korze" (original title)

Slovakia during WW2. Tono lives a poor life, but the authorities offer him to take over the Jewish widow Lautman's little shop for sewing material. She is old and confused and thinks that ... See full summary »

Directors:

Ján Kadár, Elmar Klos

Writers:

Ladislav Grosman (screenplay), Ladislav Grosman (story),

Stars:

Ida Kaminska, Jozef Kroner, Hana Slivková

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ida Kaminska	...	Rozalia Lautmannová
Jozef Kroner	...	Antonin 'Tono' Brtko
Hana Slivková	...	Evelyna Brtková
Martin Hollý	...	Imro Kuchar
Adam Matejka	...	Piti Báci
Frantisek Zvarík	...	Markus Kolkocký
Mikulás Ladizinský	...	Marian Peter
Martin Gregor	...	Jozef Katz, barber
Alojz Kramar	...	Balko, the bandmaster
Gita Misurová	...	Andoricová
Frantisek Papp	...	Andoric
Helena Zvaríková	...	Ruzena Kolkocká
Tibor Vadas	...	Tobacconist
Eugen Senaj	...	Blau, the Jewish relief treasurer
Luise Grossová	...	Eliasová

Storyline

Slovakia during WW2. Tono lives a poor life, but the authorities offer him to take over the Jewish widow Lautman's little shop for sewing material. She is old and confused and thinks that he is only looking for employment and hires him. The odd couple begin to like each other. But some time later the authorities decide that the Jews must leave the city. What should he do with the old lady?

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | fascist | slovakia | brother in law | rope | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Slovak Yiddish

Release Date:

24 January 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Shop on Main Street

Filming Locations:

Sabinov, Slovakia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min 125 min (2001 Criterion release)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was shot exclusively in the small Slovak city of Sabinov.

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Quotes

Antonin Brtko: I'm your Aryan and you're my Jewess . . . understand?

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Connections

Featured in Fejezetek a film történetéböl: A cseh új hullám (1990)

User Reviews

A masterly wrought film that is potent, profound, and forever relevant

This is one of the most elegantly crafted and powerful movies relating to the Holocaust that I have ever seen.

As the editor and publisher of the memoir of a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Slovakia, I can aver that this movie is achingly true to life. The film's setting could be this woman's hometown. Like Mrs. Lautmann in the movie, this woman had lived behind one of the family's shops on her hometown's Main Street and her family's properties were seized during the Aryanization depicted in this movie.

How the writer, director, and actors of this seemingly small film were able to condense and convey so much of the socio-economic and political tenor of that time and place, with such acumen, dark humor, and pathos is astounding.

It seamlessly moves toward an inexorable conclusion, with each successive scene leading the viewer deeper into the world of the two protagonists and reeling from the truths that the filmmakers expertly offer up.

It is days after viewing it, and still, I cannot shake this movie.