What makes it different from others?

Instant Favorite.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

In 1942, in a small town in Czechoslovakia, the poor carpenter Tony Brtko is assigned "Aryanizator" of a small shop on the main street by his fascist brother-in-law Mark Kolkotsky. His greedy wife Evelyn is seduced with the promise of fortune, but Tony finds that the store owned by the deaf and senile seventy eight year-old widow Rozalie Lautmann is bankrupted and the old lady is financially supported by the Jewish community that promises a salary to him to help her.I have come to feel that the Czech film of the 1960s may be one of the best places and best decades in the history of film. The "new wave" there is far more interesting than anything that came out of France or Italy, and was a decade ahead of the United States.This film manages to be a serious examination of an ethical conflict but still has a hint of humor and gaiety. Not enough to be offensive or dismissive of the subject matter, but just enough to remind us of the glorious Czech new wave.

And by breathtaking I mean literally breathtaking - while watching this movie, from time to time, especially during the last 30 or so minutes, you will realize that you are not breathing. I don't know what else to say, everything has already been said in other reviews. Naturally, I've heard about this movie before, I knew that it was the only Slovak movie to ever win an Oscar, I've read the reviews, but I was a bit hesitant to watch it because I know how badly many of the great old movies age and I didn't want to be disappointed. Well, I wasn't. This movie didn't age well, this movie simply doesn't age at all. The reason for this is that it deals with an eternal internal conflict in all humans - a conflict between what is good for me and what is moral. And what is "good" anyway? What is "moral"? What is the right thing to do? Is it always right to do the right thing? Is it always wrong to do the wrong thing? Where is the balance? Is there a balance? The main protagonist keeps asking these questions until it is too late. And most of all, he forces you to keep asking these questions yourself. You will keep asking yourself these questions long after watching this movie. And the only answer you will be able to come up with is "I don't know! I don't want to answer!" Just like Tono Brtko didn't want to answer them. It is a story of an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. A story of an ordinary man being forced to make a decision that no one wants to make. A decision that makes you choose between two wrong outcomes. The acting is simply perfect, there is no other word to describe it. Kaminska is perfect, Kroner is perfect and they are both perfect together. If there was an Oscar awarded for the best chemistry between two main protagonists, these two would definitely win it (and to this day I haven't seen any duo perform better).The final dream sequence is the best dream sequence I have ever seen in a movie, especially if you notice all the symbolism. It shows the contrast between what is and what could be. Between what podiums and uniforms are used for and what they could be used for. And ultimately, a contrast between the good in each and every one of us and the evil in each and every one of us.Watch this movie and you will never forget it. Trust me.

Obchod na korze is a story of a simple man in a complex times. The time I am talking about is the WW II period when Hitler was exterminating Jews from Europe. This movie although not dealing much with the scenes from Jews struggle depicts a powerful story which shows us how some European civilians were with Hitler and how they helped him in his mission. Again this movie doesn't show all this as a main plot but indirectly like how the villagers submissively throws Jews out, takes their stores, and how they talk. This all gives us a little peak at the psyche of the people at that time but the movie doesn't overbear itself with such psychic and doesn't turn into a melodramatic, tissue grabber one, but depicts one man who is simple, not with any complications and who is not Jew takes into a Jewish old woman's store but with the help of others keep the old lady working in the store by not letting other anti-Jew know about the situation. I won't reveal much here but the movie is brilliant, and the actors are really good, especially the main male lead and the old woman in the store. This is not entertainer as the time it deals with is by no means entertaining but only horrifying and yet director, writers did their best in making this movie with a light humorous nature of the characters especially in their depiction of the Tono and Lautman. So you will laugh at times, feel bad at times, think about that period most of the time and then eventually you might cry at the end. This movie is that good. Watch it for your senses.

I have a collection of over 2000 foreign films, but this film one of the best films I possess and holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it memorable for the story or for it's symbolisms but also for some of the best acting in world cinema you will ever see.Set in 1942 Czechoslovakia, Tono (Jozef Kroner) is appointed the "Aryan Controller" of a Jewish owned business that has been seized from an elderly Jewish woman, Rozalie Lautmann (Ida Kaminska). Because of her senility, the woman is oblivious to events taking place around her. She believes Tono to be her newly appointed "assistant". Conflict and tension for Tono appears from several different sources, from his venal wife, from his corrupt brother-in-law, from his growing affection and respect for the widow Lautmann, from the larger, external forces that threaten to overwhelm his newly arrived arrangement that, for the first time, offers him money, status, and respect. Tono is forced to decide between two equally unpalatable choices : To be a Jew loving Aryan or send Mrs. Lautmann to the concentration camp. That dilemma is played out primarily as an alcohol monologue, as Tono gradually breaks down under the stress of a decision he doesn't want to make.The frailties of human psyche and dilemma of being selfless or selfish has been beautifully explored in this film. The director tells this multi-layered story with the help of two wonderful actors. This kind of performance by the two central protagonists are rarely seen in world cinema. The drunken Tono and bumbling Rozalie will be etched in my memory forever. Don't miss this gem.