Directed by:
Juraj HerzCinematography:
Stanislav MilotaComposer:
Zdeněk LiškaCast:
Rudolf Hrušínský, Vlasta Chramostová, Jana Stehnová-Čechová, Miloš Vognič, Ilja Prachař, Zora Božinová, Eduard Kohout, Jiří Lír, Dimitrij Rafalský, Jan Vlček (more)Plots(1)
Prague at the end of the nineteen-thirties. Mr Kopfrkingl works in a crematorium. He is happily married and has two children - Zina and Milivoj. He looks after his family carefully and is conscientious in his job. He has a number of friends in the Society of Friends of Cremation and meets them at evening parties. One of them is the fascist Walter Reinke, who publicly rejoices at the annexation of Austria to the Greater German Reich. He tries to persuade Kopfrkingl that he too has German blood in his veins, and Walter's Nazi propaganda begins to make an impression on a man whose psychological state is affected by the constant presence of death in his life. Kopfrkingl becomes a member of the Nazi party, takes an active part in persecuting Jews and informs on his colleagues and friends to the Gestapo. One day Walter reminds him that his mother-in-law had been of non-Aryan origin and this could present an obstacle to Kopfrkingl's future career. Kopfrkingl therefore hangs his wife, with perverted tenderness. When Walter points out that his children also have Jewish blood, he resolves to kill them as well. He brutally slaughters Milivoj, but Zina manages to escape. Thus purefied, Koprfingl accepts an opportunity to join in preparations for mass cremations. He believes that in this way he will contribute to the salvation of the world. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Rudolf Hrušínský
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
The Elementary School (1991)
Journey into the Depth of the Student's Soul (1939)
Vlasta Chramostová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Hrdinové okamžiku (1961) (series)
The White Lady (1965)
Jana Stehnová-Čechová
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
The Millennial Bee (1983)
Birds, Orphans and Fools (1969)
Miloš Vognič
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
The Borstal (1969)
Lítost (1970) (TV movie)
Ilja Prachař
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Ubohý pan Kufalt (1981) (TV movie)
Král Krysa (1979) (theatrical recording)
Zora Božinová
Denmark
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Ball Lightning (1978)
The Portrait (1947)
Eduard Kohout
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961)
The Stolen Airship (1966)
Jiří Lír
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Amadeus (1984)
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
The Cremator (1968)
Dimitrij Rafalský
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Ronin (1998)
The Story of My Life (2004)
Jan Vlček
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Oil Lamps (1971)
Morgiana (1972)
Václav Halama
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Men About Town (1969)
On the Trail of Blood (1969)
Jiří Hálek
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
The Cremator (1968)
Revizor (1971) (theatrical recording)
Václav Kotva
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Jako kníže Rohan (1983) (TV movie)
The Cremator (1968)
Míla Myslíková
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
The Cremator (1968)
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
Vladimír Menšík
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Ikaros' Fall (1977) (TV movie)
Jako kníže Rohan (1983) (TV movie)
Tažní ptáci (1983) (TV movie)
Jiří Menzel
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Elementary School (1991)
The Cremator (1968)
Larks on a String (1969)
Václav Štekl
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Lemonade Joe (1964)
Adela Has Not Had Her Supper Yet (1978)
Nataša Gollová
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Vajíčko (1968) (TV movie)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
Jindřich Narenta
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
The Cremator (1968)
Waiter, Scarper! (1980)
Helena Anýžová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
Lunacy (2005)