The Cremator (1969)
"Spalovac mrtvol" (original title)

Kopfrkingl enjoys his job at a crematorium in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s. He likes reading the Tibetan book of the dead, and espouses the view that cremation relieves earthly ... See full summary »

Director:

Juraj Herz

Writers:

Ladislav Fuks (novel), Ladislav Fuks (screenplay),

Stars:

Rudolf Hrusínský, Vlasta Chramostová, Jana Stehnová

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rudolf Hrusínský	...	Kopfrkingl
Vlasta Chramostová	...	Lakmé / Dagmar
Jana Stehnová	...	Zina
Milos Vognic	...	Mili
Zora Bozinová	...	Reinkeová
Ilja Prachar	...	Walter Reinke
Eduard Kohout	...	Bettleheim
Jirí Menzel	...	Dvorák
Míla Myslíková	...	Hloupá zena
Vladimír Mensík	...	Manzel hloupé zeny
Jirí Lír	...	Strauss
Václav Stekl	...	Hudebník / rozhodcí boxu / majitel panoptika
Helena Anýzová	...	Bledá dívka
Jindrich Narenta	...	Nacista ve smokingu
Marie Rosulková	...	Zena dozadující se rakvicky

Storyline

Kopfrkingl enjoys his job at a crematorium in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s. He likes reading the Tibetan book of the dead, and espouses the view that cremation relieves earthly suffering. At a reception, he meets Reineke, with whom he fought for Austria in the first World War. Reineke convinces Kopfrkingl to emphasize his supposedly German heritage, including sending his timid son to the German school. Reineke then suggests that Kopfrkingl's half-Jewish wife is holding back his advancement in his job.

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Plot Keywords:

german | czechoslovakia | tibetan book of the dead | crematorium | 1930s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

14 March 1969 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

The Cremator

Filming Locations:

Pardubice, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov, Sebor

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Czechoslovakia's official submission to 42nd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 1970.

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Connections

Featured in Golden Sixties: Juraj Herz (2009)

User Reviews

Cautionary gothic tale

This film of Juraj Herj, like Morgiana, has a decidedly gothic feel. Karl Kopfrkingl, the owner of a modern crematorium gets creepier by the minute. At the beginning of the film at a family outing we see a snow leopard, peacock, tiger, snake, and a lion - Karl makes a comment that "cages are for mute persons." Later at a fair everyone else seems to be having a wonderful time; Karl looks quite glum. But when they enter a "chamber of horrors" exhibit, he's quite happy and intrigued while everyone else is shocked (it reminds me of one of Charles Addams' cartoons with everyone in a movie theatre crying, except for one man who seems positively overjoyed by the cinema situation).

In a sense, Karl lives for dying - or at least lives to compassionately cremate as many people as he can, releasing and purifying their souls for another life. He seems to have a bit of an obsession with Tibetan Buddhism, carrying with him a tome on the Dalia Lama's palace and Buddhist customs.

It doesn't take much flattery and cajoling by Nazi sympathizers to put Karl totally over the edge of sanity . . .

Quite an incredible film, with good use of wide-angle lenses and closeups to indicate Karl's increasing derangement.