The Shop on Main Street

DramaWar

The Shop on Main Street

User Score223 votes

71%7.1/10

Release1965→

Runtime2H 8M

LanguageGerman

StatusReleased

Synopsis

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.

Principal Cast8

Ida Kamińska

Rozalia Lautmannová

Jozef Kroner

Antonin 'Tono' Brtko

František Zvarík

Markus Kolkocký

Hana Slivková

Evelyna Brtková

Martin Hollý

Imro Kuchár

Elena Zvaríková-Pappová

Ruzena Kolkocká

Martin Gregor

Jozef Katz

Adam Matejka

Piti Báci

Full Cast & Crew (81)

Media26

Backdrops

Posters

Director

Ján Kadár

Director →

Trailer

Box Office

Revenue$1M

Keywords

naziholocaust (shoah)shopkeeper

Where to Watch

Stream

HBO Max

HBO Max Amazon Channel

Criterion Channel

External Links

IMDb

Reviews1

griggs799/10

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.

Jun 25, 2025