The Shop on Main Street (1965)

A carpenter in the Fascist Slovak State is appointed "Aryan controller" of a Jewish widow's store.

Directors:

Ján Kadár, Elmar Klos

Writers:

Ladislav Grosman (screenplay), Ladislav Grosman (story)

Stars:

Ida Kaminska, Jozef Kroner, Frantisek Zvarík

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ida Kaminska	...	Rozalia Lautmannová (as Ida Kaminská)
Jozef Kroner	...	Tono Brtko
Frantisek Zvarík	...	Markus Kolkocký (as Frantisek Zvarík)
Hana Slivková	...	Evelyna Brtková
Martin Hollý	...	Imro Kuchar
Helena Zvaríková	...	Ruzena Kolkocká (as Elena Zvaríková)
Martin Gregor	...	Jozef Katz
Adam Matejka	...	Piti Báci
Mikulás Ladizinský	...	Marian Peter
Alojz Kramar	...	Balko
Eugen Senaj	...	Blau
Tibor Vadas	...	Tobacconist
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anton Balaz
Ladislav Farkas	...	Young Man
Ladislav Fecko

Storyline

Fascist 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:

anti semitism | brother in law brother in law relationship | hearing impaired woman | memory | czech new wave | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Quotes

Rozalia Lautmannová: We all have our sorrows. We all know the past - and no one knows the future.

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Connections

Referenced in Kouzelný Silvestr (2013)

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Soundtracks

"Én vagyok a falu rossza egyedül
Performed by Tony's brother-in-law

User Reviews

admire the camera shots...and the editing

I'll skip over the story and the themes. Other commenters have said wonderful things about that.

Let's talk visuals.

I just have to say I was blown away by almost every single shot of the movie. The black and white color looks gorgeous, and the indoor shots have lots of shadows and texture. The outdoor shots seem overexposed, brilliant, artificial and almost unbearable. The criterion version just looks superlative.

Watch the dinner scene at the start where the man's brother in law is getting drunk with Tony. They are yelling, and having a time, and the camera dives/sweeps/rapidly turns around and falls. It conveys the dizzying nature of the conversation. The outdoor scenes in the first half of the movie have lots of bustle and activity, with lots of turns and shifts of perspective. People will remember the historical themes, but please don't overlook the amazing cinematography (which rightfully doesn't call attention to itself but enhances the emotional impact of every scene). In one scene (where Person X hits Person Y), camera conveys the claustrophobic, almost paranoiac perspective of Person X and sets the rest of the action up. We just knew what was going to happen next here.

The dream sequences/surreal effects were modest and didn't seem too fantastic; they were small enough for a small man overtaken with fear.

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Slovak Yiddish German Latin

Release Date:

24 January 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Shop on Main Street

Filming Locations:

Slovakia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1