Obchod na korze (1965)

Directors:

Ján Kadár
Elmar Klos

Writers:

Ladislav Grosman (screenplay)
Ladislav Grosman (story)

Release Date:

24 January 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Slovakia during WW2. Tono lives a poor life, but the authorities offer him a take over the Jewish widow Lautman's little shop for sewing material...

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Slovakia | Sabbath | Billiards | Takeover

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ida Kaminska	...	Rozalie Lautmann
Jozef Króner	...	Antonin Brtko
Hana Slivková	...	Evelyna Brtková
Martin Hollý	...	Imro Kuchar
Adám Matejka	...	Piti Báci
Frantisek Zvarík	...	Marcus Kolkotsky
Mikulas Ladizinsky	...	Marian Peter
Martin Gregor	...	Jozef Katz, barber
Alojz Kramar	...	Balko, the bandmaster
Gita Misurová	...	Andoricová
Frantisek Papp	...	Andoric
Helena Zvaríková	...	Rose Kolkotsky
Tibor Vadas	...	Tobacconist
Eugen Senaj	...	Blau, the Jewish relief treasurer
Luise Grossová	...	Eliasova, Danko's mother

Also Known As:

A Shop on the High Street (UK) (literal English title)
The Shop on Main Street (USA)

Runtime:

128 min | USA:125 min (2001 Criterion release)

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Slovak | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Sabinov, Slovakia

Company:

Filmové Studio Barrandov

Trivia:

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

Quotes:

Antonin Brtko: What can I do? What? I'm nobody. A zero.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Powerful testimony about Europe's involvement in the Nazi Era.

This film is one of the most gripping stories told about Nazi occupied Europe. A small town in 1942 Czechoslovakia feels the changing regime envelop the people, pinning friends against one another, and turning even the most pacifistic men into traitors. Small-time carpenter Tony is married to an attractive, but constantly nagging and complaining, materialistic woman. Seeing her in-laws successful, while exploiting the political advantages of working with the Nazis, makes Tony's wife ever more determined to have a "piece of the fortune" the Jews are said to have been hording. Although refusing to work at a "tower of Babel" the Nazis are erecting as a symbol of their glory (and doing without the money he could have earned), Tony doesn't speak out against the "new order" either.

When Tony finds himself as assistant to an old lady at her failing notions shop (which he "legally" was entitled to take over), he learns about the Jewish community, how everyone looked out for one another, and how these people were no different from other folk in town, if anything they were more human than the rest. Still afraid of retribution from the Nazis and their sympathisers, Tony is in a no-win-situation.

The final scene of this 1966 Best Foreign Film Oscar Winner was likely an inspiration for the final scene in the 1997 Blockbuster "Titanic". This cinematic gem serves as a reminder to the old German saying "Leben und leben lassen" (live and let live). A classic indeed!