Obchod na korze (1965)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

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:

Take Over | Slovakia | Jewish | Construction Site | Freight Train

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

Movie Connections:

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

Makes Schindler's List look like an average movie

Words can hardly do justice to this gem. Understated cinematic grandeur, ultimate moral subtlety, acting without pair in the annals of movie history, philosophical and ethical depth without sententiousness . . . should I invent new superlatives to describe this indescribably touching movie?

Yes, the movie has to do with the tragedy of Jewish people in the poisoned and poisonous Europe of the WWII period, but the emotional implications go much farther than that. They address human condition in general. It is one of those egregiously few movies which make a "philosopher" out of each of us. . . even if for a minute only. . . even if we only philosophize with our unstoppable tears. I am not one to weep easily at movies, but I defy you to watch this fabulous work of cinema without being touched to the deepest fiber of your soul.

Yes, it is that good. One of the very few movies which are better than GREAT MUSIC. Watch it - preferably on the Criterion DVD, the VHS edition leaves a lot to be desired. Unless you are an unfeeling freak, no offense intended, it is very unlikely that you will ever regret it.