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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Fiddler on the Roof |
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In Russia, while Communism rises, the small village of Anetevka has always honored tradition. Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman with five daughters, talks with God about his problems.
The village matchmaker matches Tevye's three eldest daughters. But Tevye's daughters decide to marry different men than the matchmaker appointed. They seek their father's approval. Tevye must decide whether he will break the traditions of Anetevka.
In the midst of Tevye's trials, the czar of Russia has decided to make Anetevka's residents leave. The village people have only two choices: leave Anetevka for another home or continue living in Anetevka without the promise of peace.
--B. N. Beasley, Resident Scholar
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The Fiddler on the Roof, America's most acclaimed muscical, is a story about a family in the small town of Anatevka in the Ukraine, in 1905 (on the eve of the Russian revolution.) The main character is the optimistic Tevye (Topol) who is the father of the family (wife, 5 daughters.) For as long as he can remember, life has always been governed by certain traditions that will never be changed. Or so he thinks. One by one, his daughters (the three eldest: Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava) break away from tradition (i.e. breaking an agreement for a traditional arranged marriage, marrying with out his permission, and even marrying outside the faith), each time letting it pass until...well, now that would be giving out part of the story, wouldn't it! Amongst this is his wife, Golde, who keeps Tevye down to earth. Tevye faces these problems and still comes out with a smile. Tradition may be falling apart for him, but his little town Anatefka will hold together just fine. But, as one educated in history would know, the time period in which this happens is the time of the pogroms in Russia. And just a little breeze could blow a fiddler from his roof.
The Fiddler on the Roof is a heart warming, tear breaking and awe inspiring story of tradition, family, love, sorrow and loss. But, lucky for us, it has a happy ending, in a twisted sort of way.
--G. Jaffe, Resident Scholar
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Paulene Kael once wrote that “Fiddler on the Roof” is “the most powerful movie musical ever made.” Nevertheless--and that's a big statement--the Norman Jewison film is
powerful by just about any standard and is a movie that is magnificent in scope and presentation, mighty in its message, and most pleasing to hear! The film stars Topol, as Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman in Czarist Russia, whose fellow villagers face daily the anti-Semitism that surrounds them. But Tevye faces more than religious and political discrimination. He fights hard to preserve his own cultural traditions and finds that having a houseful of daughters is no easy task; indeed, they appear to be his biggest problem. Pograms he can negotiate, but the independence of his daughters? Never!Based upon Sholem Aleichem's short stories and with a musical score that is unforgettable, the film too is memorable.
--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Fiddler on the Roof |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Family, struggling with
Yes
Struggle with:
- Daughter
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- Jew, religious
Culture clash?
- family young v. old guard
Culture of surrounding area:
- European (general)
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- blue collar
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Jewish
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Jewish
Main Adversary
- Russian
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Setting
Asia/Pacific/Middle East
Yes
Asian country:
- Russia
Farm/Ranch?
Yes
Farm/Ranch:
- farm
- lot of descript of animal care
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- in awe
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing and dancing
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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