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Second Run Presents: The Cremator
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Cremator, dir. Juraj Herz, Czech Republic 1968, 95 min., Czech with English subtitles

Book tickets

To mark the 20th anniversary of independent UK label Second Run, the ICA presents a special screening of one of their most enduringly popular titles: Juraj Herz's startling 1968 creation, The Cremator.
 
The Cremator has been described in many ways – as surrealist-inspired horror film, as an expressionistic political allegory, a pitch-black comic satire and as a dark and disturbing tale of terror.
 
This brilliantly chilling film, a unique mix of Psycho, Dr. Strangelove and Repulsion, is set in Prague during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. It tells the story of one Karl Kopfrkingl (Rudolf Hrušínský), a professional funeral director, for whom the political climate allows free rein to his increasingly perverse and deranged impulses for the ‘salvation of the world’.
 
Now more chillingly prescient than ever, The Cremator also contains another of master-composer Zdeněk Liška’s brilliantly inventive film scores.
 
Second Run owner and founder Mehelli Modi will introduce this special screening.
 
Book tickets
06:15 pm
Sat, 04 Oct 2025
Cinema 1
Ticket information
  • All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email
  • For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.
Access information
Cinema 1
  • Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
  • We have 1 wheelchair allocated space with a seat for a companion
  • All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
  • These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
  • Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
Please email access@ica.art
for the following requirements:
  • We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
  • Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email

All films are ad-free and 18+ unless otherwise stated, and start with a 10 min. curated selection of trailers.

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