The Shop on Main Street is a Czechoslovak film directed by Jan Kadár and Elmar Klos. It was made in 1965, based on a short story by Ladislav Grosman. In 1966, the film won An Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
History brought to life on film
The film *The Shop on Main Street* is set during the Second World War in a small town in the Slovak State. Tóno Brtko, a carpenter and an honest, decent man, is pressured by his wife and his high-ranking brother-in-law into accepting the Aryanisation decree concerning the shop of elderly Mrs Lautmann. Although the shop is unprofitable, Brtko stays on and pretends to be carrying out the Aryanisation. The old lady looks after Tóno as if he were her own son, and he helps her as best he can. However, the day comes when all the Jews in the town receive a summons to be deported. All except Mrs Lautmann. At first, Tóno tries to hide her, but later he persuades her to turn herself in. The pressure of events drives Tóno Brtko to a life-or-death situation.
The success of the film *Obchod na korze* abroad
This film project was directed by a duo – Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos. Upon its initial release, the film met with a huge wave of opposition not only from Slovaks but also from the state leadership in Prague. Ultimately, the film was only released because the then President, Antonín Novotný, wanted to harm the Slovak part of the country. History itself has since shown just how wrong he was.
The shop on Korzo has, in fact, won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, 1966, a year later, Ida Kamińska also received a posthumous nomination in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category, a special honour at the Cannes International Film Festival, the Klement Gottwald State Prize for J. Kadár, E. Klos, I. Kamińska and J. Kroner, the New York Film Critics’ Award, the Donatello David for Best Foreign Film of 1966, and the Czechoslovak Film Critics’ Award.
A walking trail that brings the film’s story to life for visitors in a real-life setting
A tourism project inspired by the film has been launched in Sabinov The ‘Obchod na korze’ Promenade, 11 plaques marking the locations where the first Czechoslovak Oscar-winning film was made.
QR code All you need to do is scan the information board using the mobile app, and the specific details will appear on the screen a scene in a short sequence of time. Informative texts in Slovak, German and English not only draw visitors into the story and show them where the camera was positioned during filming, but modern technology also transports them directly back to that era, where they can not only savour the atmosphere of the shoot and become part of it, but also experience the film’s humanistic message for themselves. This project has the potential not only to boost tourism in the town or foster local pride. It also sets out a moral and ethical code. The project presents this in such a way that history may serve as a lesson to us, ensuring that such events are not repeated through our own fault.
Source: Town of Sabinov
Photo source:OOCR RŠ
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