The Radical Child

The 1971 film adaptation of the stage musical focuses on the poor Jewish milkman Tevye, portrayed by the late Chaim Topol, living in the Ukrainian village of Anatevka and facing the challenge of marrying off his five daughters amidst the growing tension in his community and Imperial Russia at large in 1905. The prospective husbands include Perchik, a radical Marxist from Kiev (now Kyiv); Lazar Wolf (which most characters pronounce “laser wolf”), a wealthy widowed butcher; and the poor tailor Motel Kamzoil. Following one of the daughter’s weddings, the local constable leads a pogrom against Anatevka, with the second half of the film focusing on the aftermath months later that culminates in the dispersement of the town population following a government decree.

As a musical, there are, of course, several notable tunes such as “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Miracle of Miracles,” and “Sunrise, Sunset,” the last two being my personal favorites. A few seem padded with nonsensical words like “If I Were a Rich Man" (though it could be Yiddish or Hebrew). Regardless, most of the numbers are well-performed and certainly would not have sounded awkward even in the place and period where and when the movie occurs, given the soundtrack's Semitic feel. The film also deals with themes like Jewish tradition, with insight into their customs and relationships back in 1905. While the film is not without its flaws and has a forthcoming remake, I think the 1971 adaptation is good enough as it is.