The Shop on Main Street

9/9/1965 2h 8m 7.0/10

Overview

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.

Director

Juraj Herz

Top Billed Cast

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Hana Slivková

Evelyna Brtková

Jozef Kroner

Antonin 'Tono' Brtko

Elena Zvaríková-Pappová

Ruzena Kolkocká

František Zvarík

Markus Kolkocký

Ida Kamińska

Rozalia Lautmannová

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Martin Hollý

Imro Kuchár

Reviews

griggs79

6/25/2025

9/10

Catastrophe sprouts from tiny choices in Slovak New Wave gem _The Shop on Main Street_. In 1942 a mild carpenter becomes “Aryan controller” of a Jewish widow’s button shop. He tries to stay decent; the regime leans harder. Ida Kaminska lends the widow wary warmth, every twitch caught by the lens. Directors Kadár and Klos favour steady shots, dry wit and the odd dream flicker. No gore, only rising moral torque, ending with a thud that keeps echoing.