Juraj Herz | 1969 | Czechoslovakia | 100 minutes
Presented in the original Czech audio with English subtitles.
THE CREMATOR is screening at FOMO Secret Cinema as part of our "Banned Films Week" festival presenting films from across the globe that have been subject to censorship.
The story follows Karel Kopfrkingl, a crematorium operator in Prague who slowly embraces fascist ideology. His obsession with purity, order, and death transforms him from a mild bureaucrat into a willing participant in political violence. Herz mixes horror, black comedy, and surreal imagery to show how a polite, ordinary man can become an agent of cruelty. The shifting camera angles and distorted edits reflect Kopfrkingl’s growing delusion and moral collapse.
THE CREMATOR faced suppression following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Authorities objected to its political undertones and its dark satire of rising fascism. The film was blocked from circulation for many years, and its director, Juraj Herz, faced professional restrictions. Its critique of authoritarianism and mass obedience made it incompatible with the regime’s cultural controls.
THE CREMATOR stands as one of the key achievements of the Czechoslovak New Wave. Its visual style is bold and inventive, and Rudolf Hrušínský gives a chilling performance that remains deeply influential. The film’s examination of conformity, power, and self deception feels timeless and continues to resonate in modern political contexts.
**Location: **FOMO Secret Cinema, Bazari Orbeliani, Tbilisi. A five minute walk from Liberty Square metro.
How to find FOMO: Enter the Bazari via Atoneli St, above Carrefour, and take the stairs immediately on your left behind the jewellery stand. The cinema entrance is one flight up in the stairwell.
FOMO Secret Cinema • Bazari Orbeliani, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
