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Spalovac mrtvol

  • 19691969
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
8.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama
Set in Central Europe during World War II, a demented cremator believes cremation relieves earthly suffering and sets out to save the world.Set in Central Europe during World War II, a demented cremator believes cremation relieves earthly suffering and sets out to save the world.Set in Central Europe during World War II, a demented cremator believes cremation relieves earthly suffering and sets out to save the world.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
8.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Juraj Herz
  • Writers
    • Ladislav Fuks(novel "Spalovac mrtvol")
    • Juraj Herz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rudolf Hrusínský
    • Vlasta Chramostová
    • Jana Stehnová
Top credits
  • Director
    • Juraj Herz
  • Writers
    • Ladislav Fuks(novel "Spalovac mrtvol")
    • Juraj Herz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rudolf Hrusínský
    • Vlasta Chramostová
    • Jana Stehnová
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Photos84

    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Rudolf Hrusínský in Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Spalovac mrtvol (1969)
    Rudolf Hrusínský in Spalovac mrtvol (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rudolf Hrusínský
    Rudolf Hrusínský
    • Kopfrkinglas Kopfrkingl
    Vlasta Chramostová
    Vlasta Chramostová
    • Lakméas Lakmé…
    Jana Stehnová
    • Zinaas Zina
    Milos Vognic
    Milos Vognic
    • Milias Mili
    Zora Bozinová
    Zora Bozinová
    • Reinkeováas Reinkeová
    Ilja Prachar
    Ilja Prachar
    • Walter Reinkeas Walter Reinke
    Eduard Kohout
    Eduard Kohout
    • Bettleheimas Bettleheim
    Jirí Menzel
    Jirí Menzel
    • Dvorákas Dvorák
    Míla Myslíková
    Míla Myslíková
    • Hloupá zenaas Hloupá zena
    Vladimír Mensík
    Vladimír Mensík
    • Manzel hloupé zenyas Manzel hloupé zeny
    Jirí Lír
    Jirí Lír
    • Straussas Strauss
    Václav Stekl
    Václav Stekl
    • Hudebníkas Hudebník…
    Helena Anýzová
    Helena Anýzová
    • Bledá dívkaas Bledá dívka
    Jindrich Narenta
    Jindrich Narenta
    • Nacista ve smokinguas Nacista ve smokingu
    Marie Rosulková
    Marie Rosulková
    • Zena dozadující se rakvickyas Zena dozadující se rakvicky
    Natasa Gollová
    Natasa Gollová
    • Madam v masérském salonuas Madam v masérském salonu
    Jirí Hálek
    Jirí Hálek
    • Rámar Holýas Rámar Holý
    Jana Sulcová
    Jana Sulcová
    • Ruzolící dívkaas Ruzolící dívka
    • Director
      • Juraj Herz
    • Writers
      • Ladislav Fuks(novel "Spalovac mrtvol") (screenplay)
      • Juraj Herz(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Czech Karel Kopfrkingl enjoys his job at a crematorium 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. —Will Gilbert
    • anti semitism
    • surrealism
    • black comedy
    • eulogy
    • cult favorite
    • 162 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      With a 90.2% score on the Czech and Slovak Movie Database as well as praise from movie critics, The Cremator is often considered to be one of the best movies ever made in Czechoslovakia. It has also gathered a prominent cult following.
    • Goofs
      Interiors, fashion and hairstyle are in some cases obviously from the sixties...
    • Quotes

      Kopfrkingl: My dear children... do not fear cremation.

    • Connections
      Edited into CzechMate: In Search of Jirí Menzel (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      New World Symphony Op. 95 - Largo
      Composed by Antonín Dvorák

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An unclassifiable film object
    From time to time there are films of timeless quality. Born out of the chaos of a specific historical situation, which manage to find images, formulate words and condense signs. From the vortex of the Eastern European uproar of the late 1960s, marked by the trauma of World War II, The Cremator is one such work.

    This Czech film delves deep into political horror and psychological study drama. Its a satirical, gloomy vision of the unhealthy consequences of totalitarianism exemplified in Nazi paranoia. Blood, race, nationality, ideology and party above family, friendship, with death as liberation/elimination.

    The movie has an extraordinary atmosphere to it, it takes the shape of a walking nightmare, with a gloomy and ghostly musical accompaniment, vast use of wide angle photo to distort the images with surreal perspectives. Which provokes both fascination and disgust.

    The Cremator is not perfect, but the rather odd mixure of the creative photo, exceptional story, marvelous story telling and superb performance by Rudolf Hrusinsky, results in a timeless movie gem.
    helpful•5
    0
    • XxEthanHuntxX
    • Dec 12, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 1969 (Czechoslovakia)
    • Country of origin
      • Czechoslovakia
    • Languages
      • Czech
      • Hebrew
    • Also known as
      • The Cremator
    • Filming locations
      • Pardubice, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Filmové studio Barrandov
      • Sebor
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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