Cinema Can Do Virtuosity: The Shop Around the Corner

In terms of the human touch, Ernst Lubitsch, a virtuoso master director, regarded the melancholy comedy THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER as his most outstanding film: “I’ve made no other film in which the atmosphere and characters are as true”. None of those lucky enough to be present at the memorable screening held on one 23.12 at Arsenal would disagree. We invite audiences to reenact that night and to come back with us to Christmas in Budapest in the mid 1930s. At the leather goods shop Matuschek and Company, the mood is tense: there’s money missing in the cash register, company head Matuschek suspects his best salesperson Kralik (James Stewart) of having an affair with his wife, and Kralik and the newly employed staff member Novak (Margaret Sullavan) are annoying one another – unaware that they’re also exchanging romantic letters about the beauty of literature. Their first planned rendezvous is stymied by Matuschek, who forces both of them to work overtime, but on Christmas Eve, the happy ending finally arrives. (hjf)