Norman Jewison's adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical is set
in the Ukranian ghetto village of Anatevka (the film was actually lensed in
Yugoslavia). Israeli actor Topol repeats his London stage role as Tevye the
Milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty,
the prejudicial attitudes of non-Jews, and the romantic entanglements of his
five daughters. Whenever the weight of the world becomes too much for him,
Tevye carries on lengthy conversations with God, who does not answer but
is at least more willing to listen than the milkman's remonstrative wife Golde.
After arranging a marriage between his oldest daughter Tzeitel and wealthy
butcher Lazar Wolf, Tevye is forced to do some quick rearranging when the
girl falls in love with poor tailor Motel Kamzoil. Fancying himself more broad-
minded than his gentile oppressors, Tevye cannot accept the notion that his
other daughter Chava would want to marry Fyedka, a non-Jew. And after
shouting the praises of "tradition," Tevye must change his tune-and his entire
life-when he and his neighbors are forced out of Anatevka by the Czar's
minions. Topol's costars include Norma Crane as Golde, Yiddish theater
legend Molly Picon as Yente the matchmaker, and Leonard Frey as Motel.