Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Fiddler on the Roof is a moving, music-filled drama set in the Jewish village of Anatevka in pre-revolutionary Russia. Through the warm, earthy eyes of Tevye, a poor dairyman and loving father, the film follows the trials of his family as three of his daughters challenge long-held traditions about marriage, faith and community. When eldest daughter Tzeitel refuses an arranged match and falls for the tailor Motel, when Hodel embraces the revolutionary Perchik, and when Chava falls in love with a Christian, Tevye is forced to reconcile his devotion to tradition with his love for his children—while rising anti‑Semitic violence and the looming expulsion of the villagers tear their world apart. If you watch the movie you’ll experience a rich blend of comedy and heartbreak: witty, intimate family moments and Tevye’s ironic, philosophical asides mix with stirring, memorable musical numbers ("If I Were a Rich Man," "Matchmaker," "Sunrise, Sunset") and large ensemble scenes that capture village life. Visually and emotionally it ranges from cozy domestic warmth to sudden, painful upheaval—costumes, choreography and a strong central performance lend authenticity and humanity to the community’s struggles. Overall, Fiddler on the Roof is both a heartfelt family story and a universal exploration of change, faith and resilience. It invites the viewer to laugh, to mourn, and to leave with a lingering sense of the bonds that hold families and communities together—and the price they sometimes pay when the world shifts around them.

Actors: Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey

Director: Norman Jewison

Runtime: 181 min

Genres: Drama, Family, Musical

7.5 /10 67 /100 8.0 /10 7.4 /10