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Poster for The Shop on Main Street

The Shop on Main Street

Seen it?

1965 | 128 min | Drama, War

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved Schindler's List or Inglourious Basterds, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Harrowing.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 8 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In a small town in Nazi-occupied Slovakia during World War II, decent but timid carpenter Tono is named "Aryan comptroller" of a button store owned by an old Jewish widow, Rozalie. Since the post comes with a salary and standing in the town's corrupt hierarchy, Tono wrestles with greed and guilt as he and Rozalie gradually befriend each other. When the authorities order all Jews in town to be rounded up, Tono faces a moral dilemma unlike any he's known before.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 1 Oscar: Best International Feature Film. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar. Plus 2 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $1 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 21K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Ján Kadár, Elmar Klos

  • Ida KamińskaRozalia Lautmannová
  • Jozef KronerAntonin 'Tono' Brtko
  • František ZvaríkMarkus Kolkocký
  • Hana SlivkováEvelyna Brtková
  • Martin HollýImro Kuchár
  • Elena Zvaríková-PappováRuzena Kolkocká
  • Martin GregorJozef Katz
  • Adam MatejkaPiti Báci
  • Mikuláš LadižinskýMarian Peter
  • Alojz KramárBalko