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

irritating and unfunny

This movie tries to be a delicious and outrageous black comedy, but fails miserably.

In order to find this movie funny, you would have to be someone who finds the mere mention of funeral cremation to be delightfully wicked and naughty. I suppose such people exist, but I doubt they are in any great number.

The thing that makes this film especially irritating, apart from all the black humor that falls flat, is that Rudolf Hrusínský, the actor who plays the lead Kopfrkingl character, is in one's face, one way or another during every second of the film. He is present either on screen or in voice over narration almost constantly. And he is far from a pleasant or charming person. This movie is a lot like being stuck at some family get together and having to listen to your obnoxious, over weight uncle try to be charming and funny for hours. For me, this movie was a real ordeal.

On the upside, some of the outdoor camera shots were nice. The tableau that the crematorium and its grounds made was pleasantly creepy and other-worldly. But that's all.