The Cremator
Encyclopedia
The Cremator is a 1969 Czechoslovak horror comedy/drama film
directed by Juraj Herz, based on a novel by Ladislav Fuks
. The screenplay was written by Herz and Fuks. The film was selected as the Czechoslovakian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 42nd Academy Awards
, but was not accepted as a nominee. In 1972, it won the Festival de Cine de Sitges
Best Film award, where it also received awards for its star Rudolf Hrušínský
and cinematographer Stanislav Milota.
The story is set in 1930s Prague, where the cremator
Karel Kopfrkingl lives and works. The story combines features from black comedy
and horror (comedy horror
). It is often recognized as a follower of German Expressionist film
and also as an example of the Czechoslovak New Wave
. The film was banned after its premiere in 1969, and remained in the vault until the collapse of the communist system in Czechoslovakia
in 1989.
With the score of 90,2% on the Czech and Slovak Movie Database as well as praise from movie critics, The Cremator is considered to be one of the best movies ever made in Czechoslovakia.
during the 1930s, more specifically the demise of the golden era of the First Czechoslovak Republic and the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
under Nazi Germany
. Spiritually, the movie takes place in the aftermath of the death of Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama in 1933.
Karl Kopfrkingl works at a crematorium in Prague
. Obsessed with his duties, he believes he is not just cremating the dead, but liberating the souls of the departed. With Nazi forces gathering at the Czech border, he descends into a mania that allows him to enact his disturbed beliefs.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Juraj Herz, based on a novel by Ladislav Fuks
Ladislav Fuks
Ladislav Fuks was a Czech novelist. He focused mainly on psychological novels, portraying the despair and suffering of people under German occupation of Czechoslovakia....
. The screenplay was written by Herz and Fuks. The film was selected as the Czechoslovakian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 42nd Academy Awards
42nd Academy Awards
The 42nd Academy Awards were presented April 7, 1970 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. There was no host.This is currently the highest rated of the televised Academy Awards ceremonies, according to Nielsen ratings....
, but was not accepted as a nominee. In 1972, it won the Festival de Cine de Sitges
Festival de Cine de Sitges
The Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies...
Best Film award, where it also received awards for its star Rudolf Hrušínský
Rudolf Hrušínský
Rudolf Hrušínský was an acclaimed Czech actor.-Biography:He was born in Nová Včelnice to Hermina Červičková and Rudolf Hrušinský . He was born, literally, back stage during a showing of the play Taneček panny Marinky...
and cinematographer Stanislav Milota.
The story is set in 1930s Prague, where the cremator
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
Karel Kopfrkingl lives and works. The story combines features from black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
and horror (comedy horror
Comedy horror
Comedy horror, also known as horror comedy, is a literary and film genre, combining elements of comedy and horror fiction. The comedy horror genre almost always inevitably crosses over with the black comedy genre; and in some respects could be considered a subset of it.The short story "The Legend...
). It is often recognized as a follower of German Expressionist film
German Expressionism
German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative movements beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin, during the 1920s...
and also as an example of the Czechoslovak New Wave
Czechoslovak New Wave
The Czechoslovak New Wave is a term used for the early films of 1960s Czech directors Miloš Forman, Věra Chytilová, Ivan Passer, Jaroslav Papoušek, Jiří Menzel, Jan Němec, Jaromil Jireš, Vojtěch Jasný, Evald Schorm and Slovak directors Juraj Herz, Juraj Jakubisko, Štefan Uher, Ján Kádár, Elo...
. The film was banned after its premiere in 1969, and remained in the vault until the collapse of the communist system in Czechoslovakia
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in 1989.
With the score of 90,2% on the Czech and Slovak Movie Database as well as praise from movie critics, The Cremator is considered to be one of the best movies ever made in Czechoslovakia.
Plot
The movie takes place against the backdrop of the political radicalization of EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during the 1930s, more specifically the demise of the golden era of the First Czechoslovak Republic and the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was the majority ethnic-Czech protectorate which Nazi Germany established in the central parts of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia in what is today the Czech Republic...
under Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Spiritually, the movie takes place in the aftermath of the death of Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama in 1933.
Karl Kopfrkingl works at a crematorium in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Obsessed with his duties, he believes he is not just cremating the dead, but liberating the souls of the departed. With Nazi forces gathering at the Czech border, he descends into a mania that allows him to enact his disturbed beliefs.
Cast
- Rudolf HrušínskýRudolf HrušínskýRudolf Hrušínský was an acclaimed Czech actor.-Biography:He was born in Nová Včelnice to Hermina Červičková and Rudolf Hrušinský . He was born, literally, back stage during a showing of the play Taneček panny Marinky...
as Karel Kopfrkingl - Vlasta ChramostováVlasta ChramostováVlasta Chramostová is a Czech film actress. She has appeared in 35 films since 1950. She starred in the 1950 film The Trap which was entered into the 1951 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* The Trap...
as Lakmé; Dagmar - Jana Stehnová as Zina
- Miloš Vognič as Mili
- Zora Božinová as Erna Reinkeová
- Ilja Prachař as Walter Reinke
- Eduard Kohout as Bettleheim
- Míla MyslíkováMíla MyslíkováBohumila "Míla" Myslíková was a Czech actress. She has appeared in over 90 films and television shows between 1954 and 1993...
as woman in hat - Vladimír MenšíkVladimír MenšíkVladimír Menšík was a popular Czech actor and entertainer, born in Ivančice, Moravia, Czechoslovakia. Both comedian and serious actor, he created a wide range of lively characters...
as husband of woman in hat - Jiří MenzelJirí MenzelJiří Menzel is a Czech film director, theatre director, actor, and screenwriter. His films often combine a humanistic view of the world with sarcasm and provocative cinematography...
as Dvořák - Jiří Lír as Strauss
DVD releases
There are only two editions available to the American market, the Second Run release, released on April 10 2006, which includes an introduction by the Quay brothers and a booklet featuring an essay on the film and the Dark Sky release, released on March 31 2009, which includes no additional features.See also
- List of submissions to the 42nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Czechoslovakia submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film