Chapter 1 - The Cremator (1969)

The Cremator can be seen as mirroring the political situation of Czechoslovakia at that time, the political climate element however is not what makes this a favorite, it is that it isn't for me defined by a country out there, but as a statement about life in general. There is much in our lives that can be stand ins for Nazis these dayss.

As i begin to go through this film, which i must complete before my streamweek is done. I hope to build my review of it, adding as much as i deem fit, to both do the film proud, and reveal and illuminate what are the things in it that reveal something about who i am. It will be a kind of display of watching the film with any who would also like to as well, watch me watch you watching it with me all while you just watch me do it all.

I love the haunting music in it as well, taste and see that at least its music is sublime.

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The pre-credits scene's pictorial eloquence may be lost for those watching with subtitles. The pudgy faced guy, he speaks directly through that opening as his family is at the zoo. The camera work capturing the animals and close-ups of his face, and then the family walks up on a sidewalk to be framed in a mirror on the streetlamp (not a streetlamp, for many objects i don't know the word for them). The compositions are full of little visual flourishes. And what he's saying are also worthy of note, and i hope to re-watch this film enough before i die in order for myself to understand them better.





This man is an undertaker (no, he's just the guy who cremates, Jarfff gets finer details wrong often) with a passion for The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and some Nazis come around and help him see how much better life would be if he just was a supporter of their cause. And this dude, he ain't all right, you know? Just slightly off.

How i came to this Czech classic, i saw it being praised on Letterboxd, i must have been following someone who wrote a captivating review, i took the bait, looked into it, and soon had the Second Run DVD of it.

The first scene proper after a graphic art style mash up opening credits, we are in a ballroom where The Cremator is talking with those at their tables before giving a speech, and he has his Tibetan book with him, it's his bible. By cremating, he is a part of destiny sort of deal. He's a noble fella with a high and holy purpose.

What's the appeal for me in this film? The tone and style -- dreamy and bleak, it's like you're disconnected from reality, and floating in another world. For dust ye shall be, a commentary on death for sure, and other plot details that for me, play less of a role for me in order to love a film. The dreay and bleak tone and style is really the essence of why i love this film, and as i re-watch it, i am reminded of the fact that following along to the narrative, the dialogue, i will be enriched even further. For it's a smart film, the things this title character says has a book like quality, words from a book i'd probably find interesting enough to buy and read with pleasure, finding pearls of wisdom to live by. This is nothing like the HBO series Six Feet Under btw, this is Eastern European style kitchen sink drama, with a great level of style woven in.