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)VOD (1)
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
Karel Hovorka st.
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Jako kníže Rohan (1983) (TV movie)
The Cremator (1968)
Secluded, Near Woods (1976)
Karel Fiala
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
The Cremator (1968)
Secluded, Near Woods (1976)
Miloslav Šindler
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Oil Lamps (1971)
The Incredibly Sad Princess (1968)
Jaroslav Toms
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Riders in the Sky (1968)
Adela Has Not Had Her Supper Yet (1978)
Václav Vodák
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Oil Lamps (1971)
The Party and the Guests (1966)
František Häusler
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Radomír Hubáček
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Morgiana (1972)
Sign of the Cancer (1966)
Helena Kotoučová
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Death Is Called Engelchen (1963)
The Proud Princess (1952)
Jiří Kaftan
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
The Three Veterans (1983)
Green Gold (1964)
Theodor Kunst
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
František Poláček
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Felix Černý
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
Crime at the Zlenice Castle (1971) (TV movie)
Karel Přinesdomů
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Zdeněk Šmidrkal
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Kulhavý ďábel (1968)
Marie Rosůlková
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Charleyova teta (1969) (theatrical recording)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
Josef Kemr
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Naši furianti (1983) (theatrical recording)
Give the Devil His Due (1984)
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Jiřina Jandová
Best movies:
The Cremator (1968)
Oil Lamps (1971)
The Party and the Guests (1966)