FILM: The Cremator / Spalovač mrtvol

“What if I hang you, my dearest?”

The Cremator is a Czechoslovakian movie by Slovak director Juraj Herz, an adaptation of a psychological horror novel of the same name and partly a dark comedy as intended by the director. The film was banned right after its premiere in 1969 for morbidity (officially) and was screened again in 1990 after the fall of the communist regime. It is a story of a crematory employee, a husband and a father of two, Mr. Kopfrkingl. His growing adherence of nazi ideas makes him a cold-hearted bloodthirsty maniac. But somehow he still stays calm in a way you have never seen before, delivering long unemotional almost philosophical monologues. Black and white, with unique surreal cinematography and extraordinary cut, splendid acting and a hauntingly timeless metaphor, it is a piece of film you will remember for a long time.

Juraj Herz

Czech republic

1969

DVD

95 min

Czech dialogue

English subtitles