Rating: 
Summary: A Compelling Tragedy
Review: It is important to understand that this is a Slovak film and a Slovak story, not a Czech one. The importance of the distinction lies in the fact that, while the Czech lands of Bohemia-Moravia were occupied by the Germans and ruled (with an iron fist) by the SS during the war, Slovakia remained a nominally independent Nazi puppet regime under a dictator named Tiso. The story of the main character is thus really the story of a struggle for the soul of that country during a time when a toxic mix of anti-semitism and nationalism led so many Slovaks to collaborate with the expulsion of the Jews from their land. Especially poignant is the way that the story highlights one of the most enduring social pathologies of that region of the world: petty envy, and the foolishness and outright evil that it leads to.This movie is so good that it's often difficult to watch. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking some insight into that part of history. A must-see companion film is the more recent Czech production, "Divided We Fall" (available on DVD), which portrays the story of a couple in a Czech village who have to pretend to be collaborators in order to cover the fact that they are hiding a Jew in their apartment. Although what the main characters do is ultimately heroic, the movie is honest enough not to portray them as noble, but as frightened people who feel trapped into a terrible moral dilemma. Unlike "The Shop on High Street," "Divided We Fall" exhibits the uniquely Czech characteristic of being tragic and funny at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: A Slovak masterpiece
Review: Not much I can add to the universal praise this film has garnered -- just a personal note -- my paternal grandparents came to the US from Moravia, the central third of what was once Czechoslovakia (the present Czech Republic consists of Bohemia and Moravia), so I could understand some of the dialogue because my grandparents spoke to my father in Czech and I picked up a slight "feel" for the language. This film employs standard Czech colored with some Slovak dialect.
Rating:
Summary: Correction
Review: There is a small error in the description of the movie. The movie was made in former Czechoslovakia, so it would probably be best to call it a Czechoslovak movie. Moreover neither the director nor the actors are Czech, and the story takes place in Slovakia. This is a tragic story from the period of the first independent Slovak state and confiscation of Jewish property by Arians. Jozef Kroner (died 1998) was a leading Slovak actor. This is important to mention, because otherwise the historical setting is completely misplaced.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Testimony to Europe's Darkest Era in Recent History
Review: This film is one of the most gripping stories told about Nazi occupied Europe. A small town in 1942 Czechoslovakia feels the changing regime envelop the people, pinning friends against one another, and turning even the most pazifistic men into traitors. Small-time carpenter Tony is married to an attractive, but constantly nagging and complaining, materialistic woman. Seeing her in-laws successful, while exploiting the political advantages of working with the Nazis, makes Tony's wife ever more determined to have a "piece of the fortune" the Jews are said to have been hording. Although refusing to work at a "tower of Babel" the Nazis are erecting as a symbol of their glory (and doing without the money he could have earned), Tony doesn't speak out against the "new order" either. When Tony finds himself as assistant to an old lady at her failing notions shop (which he "legally" was entitled to take over), he learns about the Jewish community, how everyone looked out for one another, and how these people were no different from other folk in town, if anything they were more human than the rest. Still afraid of retribution from the Nazis and their sympathisers, Tony is in a no-win-situation. The final scene of this 1966 Best Foreign Film Oscar Winner was likely an inspiration for the final scene in the 1997 Blockbuster "Titanic". This cinematic gem serves as a reminder to the old German saying "Leben und leben lassen" (live and let live). A classic indeed!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but poorly translated
Review: This movie rightfuly deserves all the praise and accolades given. The acting, camera work and editing are excellent and sadly, it's also historicaly accurate. Aside from the title sequence the spoken language is all Slovak and not Czech or any other form of convoluted Czech-Slovak dialect. Considering most Czechs were expelled from Slovakia during this period, it would be inconceivable for the director to have the actors speak Czech --the domestic audience would have never tolerated that. The english subtitles, however, contain many errors and poorly translated passages which detract from fully understanding the humour, sarcasm and even some events. There is some profanity, which is also translated into more tempered english terms. Here a two examples: In the subtitles, Tono's friend and neighbour Piti is refered to as Piti Batchi, which should be 'baci', the Hungarian word for 'uncle', that many south eastern Slovaks use as a term of endearment and respect. In one scene Tono calls Imro Kuchar --- Kuchar baci. The term Pan, which translates into Mr. --has a double meaning. Historically, it meant someone of nobility, a baron or a land holder. On two occasions Tono is refered to as "pan Brtko" but in a very sarcastic way. Once by Katz, the barber, while packing and later by the Hlinka Guard Luetenant Martin in the pub. I think Tono understands the ridicule, but doesn't understand why yet. The DVD should have included some historical background, as I believe many viewers will not be familiar with the history of the region during this period. This may confuse some viewers who may not understand the many references or the regalia displayed in the film. The movie is also a metaphor for life under Stalinism. Although it takes place during WWII, the jews can easily be replaced by non communists and the Hlinka Guards by the Stalinist era communists who persecuted all who stepped over the official party line. Even an innocent joke, deemed inappropriate, could carry a 5yr sentence. It was not uncommon for children to report their parents to the authorities for saying or doing something against the communist dogma tought to them in school. This is clearly evident in the barbershop scene with the angry Piti baci and later when Tono realises that he was "set up" by his own brother-in-law. Marcus Kolkotsky, the Hlinka Guard commander and Tono's brother-in-law knows Tono is a weak man, he says as much during the drinking party during which he calls Tono a coward when Tono can't hold down his liquor. He also made it very clear as to what would happen to anyone harbouring or aiding the jews. Only Kolkotsky could have made sure Mrs. Lautmann's 'call-up" card was never issued or delivered, only he knew the inner turmoil this would create within Tono and only he knew that no matter what happened, he had him.
Rating: 
Summary: a great film.
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
The Shop On Main Street, known as "Obchod na korze" in what used to be Czechoslovakia, is one of several films released internationally during the popuarity of Czechoslovakian movies in the US. It remains one of the most famous ones also.
In the film, a young man takes over a shop run by a Jewish widow during the Nazi occupation. He helps take care of her and they become friends. He then faces a dilemma when the Nazis begin ddeporting the Jews.
The film remain popular to this day and won an oscar for best foreign language film.
The Criterion Collection edition only has the theatrical trailer as a special feature.
Rating:
Summary: Dialogue missing
Review: Unfortunately, most of us in the US do not speak Czech. I was really broken-hearted, because I loved the movie but heard long dialogues that were never translated for me in the subtitles.
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