Fiddler on the Roof 1971

In the heartwarming and poignant film, we find ourselves immersed in the daily struggles of Tevye (played by), a devoted Jewish milkman, as he navigates the harsh realities of life in Anatevka, Tsarist Russia. This endearing patriarch frequently breaks the fourth wall, conversing with both the audience and the heavens to share his thoughts and emotions, providing an intimate connection with those watching.

Tevye’s family, including his loving wife Golde, face significant financial difficulties, as do most of the Jewish community in Anatevka. His five daughters are awaiting marriage, but their impoverished state leaves them unable to afford a dowry, making it challenging for Tevye and Golde to find suitable husbands for them.

The shtetl of Anatevka is beset by hardship and uncertainty, as the Jewish community lives in constant fear of persecution from their non-Jewish neighbors. Tevye poignantly captures this precarious existence by likening the Jews’ situation to a fiddler on a roof, who must balance precariously between producing harmony and risking disaster. This metaphor is reinforced throughout the film, symbolizing the Jews’ ongoing struggles and fears.

Tevye’s life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Perchik (played by), a young man with modern ideas about faith and politics. Tevye invites Perchik to join his family in exchange for tutoring his daughters. Through Yente, the matchmaker, Tevye arranges for his eldest daughter Tzeitel to marry Lazar Wolf, a prosperous butcher. However, Tzeitel is deeply enamored with her childhood sweetheart Motel, and begs her father not to force her into marriage with the much older butcher.

Tevye eventually relents, but at great personal cost, as he must confront the disappointment and humiliation of Lazar Wolf. The couple ultimately decides to marry, with Tevye convincing Golde that a prophetic dream foretold their union.

The joyous wedding celebration takes an unexpected turn when Perchik sparks controversy by asking Hodel to dance, transcending the traditional boundaries between men and women. As the guests initially resist this innovation, Perchik’s impassioned speech advocating for couples’ freedom to choose their own husbands gradually wins them over.

Just as the ceremony reaches its climax, a group of local peasants arrives, unleashing a violent pogrom against the Jews and their property. The film thus poignantly captures the fragility of life in Anatevka, where even the most ordinary-seeming moments can be shattered by the brutal forces of intolerance and prejudice.

As Perchik (character) prepares to depart Anatevka to dedicate himself to the revolutionary cause, he confides his deep affection for Hodel to her, and she readily accepts his proposal of marriage. When they share their decision with Tevye, he is incensed by their defiance in not seeking his blessing, particularly since Perchik’s departure will leave a void in Anatevka. However, after some introspection, Tevye ultimately relents, acknowledging the strength of their love for one another.

Weeks later, when Perchik finds himself arrested in Kiev and exiled to Siberia, Hodel resolves to join him in his distant exile. Her determination is fueled by her unwavering devotion to him. Meanwhile, Tevye’s youngest daughter, Chava, has fallen deeply in love with Fyedka, a young Russian man. As she musters the courage to broach the subject of marriage with Tevye, he is faced with an existential dilemma: can he truly accept his daughter’s decision to abandon their Jewish heritage and marry outside their faith?

As Chava elopes with Fyedka and marries in a Russian Orthodox Church, Golde is left devastated by the news. In a poignant moment of anguish, Tevye rejects Chava when she pleads for forgiveness and acceptance, his heart heavy with the weight of her sacrifice. The stage is set for a bittersweet conclusion as the Jews of Anatevka receive notice from the Russian government that they must vacate the village within three days. As the clock ticks down, Tevye and his family and friends begin packing their belongings to embark on uncertain journeys to destinations such as New York, Chicago, Jerusalem, and beyond.

In a poignant coda, just before the credits roll, Tevye catches sight of the fiddler and beckons him to follow. As the camera pans out, the fiddler trails behind Tevye down the dusty road, marking the end of an era in Anatevka.