Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler Under the Roof – Created by Don Cheke

My favorite movie of all time is Fiddler on the Roof, the 1971 version directed by Norman Jewison. I just love the premise of this movie, the story of a typical man, Tevye, a common man of the times, making the best of life as he can, all the while struggling with the changes in the world around him that force him to reformat his thinking, which he always does, but not without some struggles with what he thinks is tradition. I just love how Tevye can get past his own shortcomings, and stuck-in-the-past thinking, by taking time to reflect, pray, and work his way through the things that require him to do so.

In this blog post I want to talk about some of the lessons and wisdom that comes across in this movie.

The main premise of the movie is about the importance of tradition, how it is the foundation of everything, but in the end, how one must be resilient and adapt, even if it means going against tradition, or even in spite of it.

The movie starts with Tevye saying, “A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn’t easy.”

This sentiment is so true! Life isn’t easy, and nowhere is it written that it is supposed to be. I learned this early on in my journey and knowing that life isn’t easy somehow made/makes it easier. Since I know there will be struggles, I can and have developed tools and behaviors that help me work my way through them one day at a time, and I am always a better person for having done so. Really, this is what acquired wisdom is all about.

Tevye continues his thoughts with, “You may ask, ‘Why do we stay up there if it’s so dangerous?’ Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!”

Tradition – Created by Don Cheke

Although I think traditions are fine, I believe that they must change when they become outdated. There are so many outdated traditions, a number of which are mentioned in the movie, but Tevye begins to change his thinking as required. It is a beautiful thing to watch how he manages each one of the changes in thinking as it presents itself, at least for the most part. Three incidents occur during the movie, all looking at the marriage and relationships of his three oldest daughters. Instead of Tevye taking the lead by having the marriages arranged, his daughters all choose the modern route of choosing their own partners. This causes Tevye great stress which he must find his way through, letting tradition slip away. It is a great analogy for many things that require us to let go, in terms of beliefs and times of change. Tevye really struggles in the movie when his third eldest daughter not only chooses her own husband, but also chooses to marry someone outside their family faith. Tevye feels that he can’t bend that far in his faith, but in the end, we see hints that he will get there, if not immediately.

One of the things that I have tried to change in my world, tradition-wise, as a father and a grandfather, is the stereotypical roles for men and women, boys and girls. These outdated roles have no place in this world, yet they thrive, even in the modern society we find in Canada and United States. Don’t get me started on those countries that seem to be a hundred or more years behind the times where women still walk behind their man and are not allowed to participate in things that men can do. How can they be so backward!?

I wouldn’t say that my family had many traditions that were on the level of what the movie illustrated, but we had some. Going to Catholic schools and church were a couple, but they weren’t pursued at all costs. Nothing was written in stone. With Dad leaving, and Mom starting her recovery in Al-Anon sooner rather than later, Mom learned to adapt to whatever life threw her way, and by her example my brothers and I learned the same. One tradition my family has retained for all our years is the celebration of birthdays. Birthdays were always important to my mom and she always went out of her way to make our birthdays very special, even when money was in short supply. I continued that with my family, and now my daughter continues that with hers. Last night, at the time of working on this blog post article, we celebrated my oldest granddaughter’s 10th birthday with a special supper, cake, balloons, and presents galore. She had requested spaghetti and meat sauce for supper, so I made that for all of us that gathered here at grandpa and grandma’s (Nana) place. What do you have for family traditions?

Throughout the movie, many other struggles are highlighted and the suffering that is brought by it is looked at and dealt with in ways that seem typical, even today. That includes bargaining with God, and sharing frustrations with family, friends, and neighbors.

Tevye’s typical response to struggles or concerns is to talk to his god. Here are a couple lines he says at two different times when he is frustrated and when he is feeling somewhat helpless.

Tevye: “Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, you say to yourself, ‘What kind of mischief can I play on my friend Tevye?’”

Tevye: “As the good book says, Heal us O lord, and we shall be healed. In other words, send us the cure, we’ve got the sickness already.”

Even for us modern folk, dealing with issues might often include, and often does, dreaming about winning a lottery and listing the many ways that one could solve all the family problems with an abundance of it. Let’s face it, a good chunk of change would go a long way to solving some issues but would likely cause others. Although, I’m willing to give it a try! You too, I bet! 😊

Like Tevye says while talking to God, “You made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, it’s no shame to be poor, but it’s no great honor either. Now, what would be so terrible if I had a small fortune?”

Dear Lord – Created by Don Cheke

In a similar vein, elsewhere in the movie when Perchik and Tevye are visiting, Perchik says in response to something that Tevye has said with, “Money is the world’s curse.” Tevye replies, “May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover!” I say, amen to that!

In addition to the struggles that come from living with little and the ever-changing landscape of life, the movie looks somewhat at religious differences, not so much the specifics about them but the prejudice and upheavals that come with little or no tolerance for the beliefs of others. I often wonder after watching this movie, why the Jews have been the brunt of so much hate over the millennia. It just doesn’t make any sense to me! I asked the Bing AI a couple of times to explain it to me. Although the AI listed several things like religious and cultural differences, stereotypes, and scapegoating, it just didn’t offer anything that made sense to warrant such hatred. Don’t get me wrong, I understand human nature to a great extent, and I understand harboring resentments for all our lives, but this whole business with the Jews just seems so over the top. It is almost the very definition of insane!

In the movie, the people of Anatevka are faced with some significant upheavals and are even given an edict to leave their home and the district where they have lived for many years. In some ways they stand up to the challenges, not forcefully, but by coming together and helping each other to move on, maintaining their faith that God has a different plan for them. Although they don’t come right out and say it, they really embody the Serenity Prayer; grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. They know that they can make their home anywhere and will do it once again.

I appreciate it when, in the movie, Perchik comes on the scene to let others know of the greater world and to teach a more modern way of thinking, of standing up for one’s beliefs. He says, “You can’t close your eyes to what’s happening in the world,” meaning we can’t just sit around and be victims. We must take the initiative to make things different. Although for him, this meant joining the revolution to fight the injustices, I believe it was also meant for people to do so on a more personal level. It is sound advice! Be aware and make the required changes, it will make all the difference in the world!

One of the saddest things for me is to know that people are still fighting over the same things – religious and political differences. Occasionally they are slightly different actors but it’s the same old nonsense that surely can be overcome with some acceptance and cooperation. Even today, as I write this, bombs are being dropped. Sometimes it feels like we as a people haven’t come very far at all, yet I know we have.

Bombs of Discord – Modeled & Rendered in TurboCAD by Don Cheke

On a more positive note, I appreciate the development of all the loving relationships in the movie, first with Tzeitel and Motel, then with Hodel and Perchik, and again with Chava and Fyedka. Love is a key ingredient in life and there is nothing more special than having a life-long partner to share it with. It is very cute, in the movie, when Tevye asks Golde if she loves him. Theirs was an arranged marriage and now with his daughters being allowed to choose their own husbands, out of love, he wonders if his Golde has come to love him. In the end, it is obvious that both Golde and Tevye love one another in their own special way.

Love – Created by Don Cheke

Just to add a bit more about love, there is a scene in the movie when Perchik is proposing to Hodel in a revolutionary’s political manner, lecturing on the benefits of marriage, including the positive socioeconomic base that it provides and other such things. Hodel keeps adding over and again, after each point he makes, “and affection!” Perchik finally wraps it up and says in a somewhat fed-up manner, “Yes, and Affection!” Denise and I often say to one another as we approach each other for a hug, “and affection,” which brings back the memory of the movie and makes it an extra special thing for us. Yes, affection is important! 👍💖😊

I have now watched this movie six or eight times, and I know most of the words. I could probably perform the whole show if I chose too. Ask my wife Denise, as I perform many parts now and again, just for her benefit, accent, and all. LOL!

You might be interested to know that my younger brother, Doug, has performed in a number of plays over the years in some of Calgary’s local groups. They have all been musicals and he typically has been part of the chorus, singing his heart out. My wish is that he stars in a rendition of Fiddler on the Roof one day, and if not that, then Jesus Christ Superstar. Wouldn’t that be cool!

Doug Cheke – Sondheim Tribute Review – Cast Poster – Photographer Unknown

Doug Cheke – In Costume for the Calgary Opera production of Lakme – Photographer Unknown

Isn’t he cute, my baby brother?! 😊

To wrap up, I would just like to say that I hope that you have found ways to maintain your balance as you fiddle away on the rooftop of your life. ?

Donald B. Cheke – May 20, 2024