Historical Sites - Polish Shtetl

A small shtetl home - from the movie set of A Serious Man

During the summer when you visit the Chisago County Fair in Rush City, be sure you stop at the steel pole building just inside the gate and take a look at the newest donation to the Chisago County Historical Society. . . the log structure featured in the opening scenes of "A Serious Man" the latest movie produced and directed by Ethan and Joel Coen.

The entire movie was shot on location in the Twin Cities. Nominated for best picture, it did not win an Oscar, but in March of 2010 it won the prestigious Robert Altman Award for the best ensemble cast and also another award for the best cinematography.

Even those not familiar with this current movie, will probably remember "Fargo" which brought fame and recognition to the two brothers who grew up in St. Louis Park. The Coens generously offered the log structure to the Chisago County Historical Society, paid to have it dismantled, and hauled to the fairgrounds on a flatbed semi trailer. There it was reassembled with the help of a community work crew.

It is not your typical log cabin. . . not at all like the traditional 19th century home already on display inside the pole barn. This one has authentic old logs alright. . . straight from the Taylors Falls, MN area. But the logs are only on the front. . . two sides are covered with plywood over 2 x 4's. There is no back wall at all. And, oh yes, the roof is missing.

You can read more about this latest acquisition in the May/July 2010 issue of the Chisago Heritage Journal [Volume 29, Issue 2].

A Serious Man is a black comedy film written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It was released on October 2, 2009 in the United States. Starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, Fred Melamed, and Richard Kind, it tells the story of an ordinary man who is trying to find balance and under- standing in the world.

The film has attracted a highly positive critical response, including a Golden Globe nomination for Stuhlbarg, a place on both the American Film Institute's and National Board of Review's Top 10 Film Lists of 2009, and a nomin- ation for Academy Award for Best Picture.