

The Shop on Main Street
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.
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7.1/10
233 votes
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- $1.5M
- Language
- German
- nazi
- holocaust (shoah)
- world war ii
- shopkeeper
Top billed cast






Behind the camera
Director
Music
Produced in
Czechoslovakia
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery






Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- Theatrical (limited)New York Film Festival9 Sept 1965
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical15Original BBFC classification for cinema was A24 Jun 1965
BrazilBR
- Physical16Alberto Bitelli Dist. mj.gov.br1 Jan 2000
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival20 May 1965
- Theatrical12 May 1966
- TheatricalRessortie5 Feb 2025
GermanyDE
- Theatrical10 Nov 1965
GreeceGR
- PhysicalDVD15 Dec 2004
RussiaSU
- Theatrical23 May 1966
XCXC
- Theatrical8 Oct 1965
Frequently asked questions
The Shop on Main Street was released on 24 June 1965.
Audience reviews
1- G9/10
griggs79
6/25/2025
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…
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