The Shop on Main Street

A film so brilliant and so masterfully orchestrated and built up in the second half that it brings me to tears. One of the distinctive cornerstones of the mosaic called "The Golden Era of Czechoslovak cinema of the 1960s", and clear proof (one of many) that it was at that time when the greatest works of cinema in this country were made. The performances of Kroner and Kaminska are superb, the film was a well-deserved worldwide success at the time of its release (as evidenced by the Oscar and the unique Oscar nomination for Kaminska, which was a year too late in the history of this award); it's a pity that it’s almost unknown to today's young generation. (07/01/2013)

That brilliantly escalating half hour really chilled me… An exceptional film, and not only when it comes to Czechoslovakia. (14/02/2009)

Yes, it is true that The Shop on Main Street is about, in essence, a pretty important topic in our history. In any case, it must be acknowledged that this film is from Slovakia rather than Czechoslovakia. This is not to say that it is more about Slovak history than Czech one, as it is clear to me things were exactly the same in Czechia. But the Slovaks contributed more to this film’s creation. Anyway, what didn’t sit well with me was the affected Slovak language, where I kept missing every second line and I had hard time getting into the story. Another problem, however, was the cumbersome filmmaking, where one had to pay a lot of attention in order to perceive every detail and nuance of the story. (02/02/2013)

It's great to work with so many levels and ambivalence of "I'm a good person, after all, I even arise basically against my will, moreover when something comes out of it, but quietly, no one needs to know, especially when I'm calm", and the portrayal of all the characters who walk in front of, in or behind the shop. It's playful in form (hiding from the viewer/camera is exactly what one would expect Herz to have come up with) and it works in multiple ways. It can be unabashedly emotional, everyone acts with gusto, and it's the actions of the characters that are the defining factor, not the declamatory speeches that many other filmmakers would be tempted to make. It is not a probe into the soul of the Slovak nation through addressing the historical skeletons in the closet, but a probe into the soul of an ordinary man under the pressure of the times. Period. That's what makes it timeless. But the whole thing is marred by the ending, where of all the possible outcomes, the one used is by far (but far) the least interesting, and consequently the least compelling. If "it" had at least been done knowingly… Considering the way the central dilemma is handled all along, this is an undignified, cheap "how to get out of it" from Grossman. (12/02/2021)

If there is a reason for Kadár and Klos to be burned in hell for their film achievements of the 1950s (and there are a few reasons), then they more than make up for their sins with this film. An excellent chilling drama from the wartime era that shows how dictatorship and dark times can distort human character. By the way, when we compare the acclaimed Hřebejk's film "Divided We Fall" with "The Shop on Main Street", we will understand the difference between a very good film and an outstanding film, and the difference between playing it safe and having filmmaking courage. Overall impression: 100%. One of the best films ever produced by the Czechoslovak film school. (24/06/2006)

I've been struggling with accepting The Shop on Main Street for years and it's still like being at sea, once down, once up. The work of the Kadár/Klos duo will always be problematic because their joint ascension in the 1950s is one perversion after another. The Shop on Main Street has a theme comparable to the appeal of Zinnemann's The Search, which is nice, but the tragedy encapsulated in the character of Ida Kaminská is too complicated to be so easily eclipsed by Kroner's traditional citizen in moral distress. Unfortunately, today it is also difficult to understand the dialogues that sovereignly combine Slovak, German, and Yiddish. There could not be a more atypical film for Czechoslovak cinema, and yet it is the one that represented 20 years of State Film in its time and is now honored with the Academy Award as eternal and divine. (16/11/2014)

I can’t believe that I missed this gem for so long. There have been many films with similar themes in the post-war wave of cinema, but patriotically I have to shout to the world that none can match the Czech Higher Principle and the Slovak The Shop on Main Street. An incredibly climactic and powerful story that the heroic performances of Kaminska and Kroner in particular make it gripping from the first minute to the last depressing shot. The Slovaks can be rightly proud, this film should have won more than one Oscar. 100% (13/01/2013)

A great example that Czech, Czechoslovak and Slovak cinematography definitely have something to say and draw from. A perspective on war through the eyes of ordinary people, a perspective on war through the development of one character, and a development that is brilliantly destructive. What the main pair of actors showcase is as incredible as the masterful experimentation of the directing duo. One of the peaks of Czechoslovak cinematography. Actually, of Czech and Slovak independent cinematography as well. (02/12/2014)

A Czechoslovak cinematic gem that deservedly won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. This superbly constructed story imbued with an atmosphere of fear and emotionally built to the max, is a chillingly accurate portrayal of the time period it is about. The film is adorned with literally fascinating performances by Jozef Kroner and Ida Kamińska. I dare say they both presented themselves here in the best roles of their lives. The last half hour blew my mind. In fact, I can't remember if I've ever had a similarly strong emotional experience with any other film. (05/05/2020)