Set in World War II, a demented cremator believes cremation relieves earthly suffering and sets out to save the world.
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Title: Cremator (1969)
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3 wins.
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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 | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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. Written by Will Gilbert
Certificate:
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Details
Country:
CzechoslovakiaLanguage:
CzechRelease Date:
14 March 1969 (Czechoslovakia) See more »Also Known As:
The Cremator See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1
Edit
Kopfrkingl: My sweet. This is the blessed spot where we met 17 years ago. Only the leopard is new. Kind nature long ago relieved the other of his shackles. You see, dear, I keep talking of nature's benevolence, of merciful fate, of the kindness of God. We judge and criticize others, rebuke them. But what about ourselves? I always have the feeling that I do so little for you.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The monologue that Kopfrkingl (Rudolf Hrusínský) delivers toward the end of the film, he is standing of the Right panel of Hieronymus Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights". There is also a montage of other Bosch paintings including; "Carrying of the Cross", "Ascent of the Blessed" & others. See more »Goofs
Interiors, fashion and hairstyle are in some cases obviously from the sixties... See more »Quotes
[first lines]Kopfrkingl: My sweet. This is the blessed spot where we met 17 years ago. Only the leopard is new. Kind nature long ago relieved the other of his shackles. You see, dear, I keep talking of nature's benevolence, of merciful fate, of the kindness of God. We judge and criticize others, rebuke them. But what about ourselves? I always have the feeling that I do so little for you.
See more »
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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.