Fiddler On The Roof

The name Fiddler On the Roof may not ring any bell for some, but many of you are certainly familiar with the following song from this 1964 Broadway musical, and the 1971 film adaptation:



The musical is set in 1905 in Tsarist Russia. Tevye, an Orthodox Jewish milkman, living in the Orthodox Jewish section of the village of Anatevka, is a very poor man despite working hard, and he wants to find nice and wealthy husbands for his five daughters. Traditionally the marriages are arranged through the matchmaker, and Yente makes the first arrangement for his oldest daughter, Tzeitel, with the wealthy butcher of the village, Lazar Wolf. Despite the agreement for marriage between Tevye and Lazar Wolf, the so-called engagement is eventually broken, for Tzeitel and the tailor Motel are in love with each other for a long time; the begging of Tzeitel and the determination of the young lovers soften Tevye's heart and the first marriage is done.

Meanwhile, his daughter, second-in-line, Hodel falls in love with Perchik, a young and passionate Marxist, and accepts his hand in marriage; when he hears that, Tevye first objects this marriage and gets furious, however he softens yet again, for he sees how much they love each other. Perchik leaves Anatevka and goes to Kiev; when he is arrested in a protest against the Tsar, Hodel goes to Kiev to join him, promising her father that they will be married there.

The things would not be that simple when it comes to the third daughter, Chava, for the man she wants to marry happens to be an Orthodox Christian; even though Tevye breaks most walls of traditions for his previous daughters, his faith is not yet to be broken down. Thus, Chava and Fyedma secretly get married in the church.

While the family life goes through ups and downs, the political and religious conflicts arise and the pressure on the Jewish community becomes harder, resulting in the forced migration of the village. In the end a hard journey begins for Tevye, his wife and the remaining two daughters, with a new hope in their hearts.

Fiddler On The Roof is one of the most influential musicals of all time, not for only the beautiful music and the choreography, but also the incredible acting and the impressive story. It mixes the elements of comedy well with drama, and surely sheds a light to an era in the history. The central plot of the story is the time and traditions changing; the young now want to find and choose each other themselves, through love, and love is a new word for the generation of Tevye, the generation of arranged marriages. Although it may not be acceptable for many parents at that time in that community, the love for his daughters help Tevye face the new realities of the new era. This may be an easier wall to break down, but the Orthodox faith is never like so, and however open-minded and soft father he may be, when it comes to religion, Tevye goes as far as disowning his own child; there is still one thing he is not ready, and perhaps he never will be.




I do not know if you like musicals; if you don't, break down a wall yourself and watch Fiddler On The Roof and be ready for 181 minutes of joy; and when you do, pay a special attention to Chaim Topol, he truly does shine as Tevye, with his wonderful acting and his incredible voice.