Happy Birthday, Ján Kadár! Born today in 1918 as János Kadár, this Hungarian-born Slovak film writer and director of Jewish heritage, as a filmmaker, worked in Czechoslovakia, the United States, and Canada. Most of his films were directed in tandem with Czech film director Elmar Klos.
Among his credits, Kadár is best known for co-writing and co-directing the 1965 Czechoslovak black and white war/drama film 'Obchod na korze' ('The Shop on Main Street').
Set in a small town in Nazi-occupied Slovakia during World War II, decent but timid carpenter Anton "Tóno" Brtko (Jozef Kroner) is named "Aryan comptroller" of a button store owned by an old Jewish widow, Rozalie Lautmann (Ida Kaminska).
Since the post comes with a salary and standing in the town's corrupt hierarchy, "Tóno" 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, "Tóno" faces a moral dilemma unlike any he's known before.
When the authorities order all Jews in town to be rounded up, "Tóno" faces a moral dilemma unlike any he's known before.
The film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 37th Academy Awards in early April 1965.
The following month, the film was entered into the 18th Cannes Film Festival. The following year, Kamińska was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The following month, the film was entered into the 18th Cannes Film Festival. The following year, Kamińska was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Kadár had been active from 1945–1979.
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