Spalovac Mrtvol

IMDb Link

Those who know me (and let's face it, if you're reading this, you probably kinda know me) know I have a dark sense of humor.
And there is someone, someone who lives in Prague, who got this film for me. I don't know if I should be flattered or freaked out by how much she knows me, but either way it's great that she does!
Because: yes: this is my kind of film.
This film is about death. Every frame, every scene, reminds you of death. Dead people being cremated, the German army at the border, reincarnation, boxing, blood, dead carps. Death is evreywhere, as DM sang. Maybe Martin had seen this film before writing the song.

Even the happy moments, like Christmas... There are candles, which reminds Karel of his business as a "cremator." And the dead carp, which brings on a speech about reincarnation by dear old Karel...
Speaking of Karel, this film is also about delusion. And madness. And overall freakishness... Rarely have I seen a character so perverse and depressing and opportunistic and icky as him. He pets everyone, his children, his cat, his dead people. He combs them, too. Then he combs himself. And he digs Nazis.
And, as we know, Nazis dig crematoria. Yeah. It's a happy film. I'm expecting the Disney remake at any time. With Sandra Bullock as the wacky cremator.
To go back to dear old nutsy Karel, I have to admit he's one interesting character. He's only happy when he's sad... And the way he touches his children is as creepy as imagining Ratzinger at a boyscout rally.

In this film, the ones who are deemed weak or crazy are the ones who can see that the world around them is crazy and dark and full of violence. Of course, there's no room in the new world order for them...

Don't get me wrong, there's also humor. Dark humor, which would make the "Man Bites Dog" gang blush... The line "No, that wouldn't do..." is incredibly, funnily, dark. Watch the film to know what I'm talking about.

It would be a shame to not mention the directing and editing, which keeps putting you off balance, making you feel like you're also going crazy. You gotta love that.
And of course, I don't mean to over-analyze anything here, but this film is about Nazis and madness and people blindly loving a cause. And the parallel between animals and humans. And this film is from 1968. Kind of an important date in Czech history. Things that make you go 'hmmm...'

So, yes: if you're half crazy, if you enjoy dark tales of madness, murder and death, this film is for you.

And if you don't enjoy this kind of films, well... fuck you.