Kafka (1991)

Kafka works during the day at an insurance company, where events lead him to discover a mysterious underground society with strange suppressive goals.

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writer:

Lem Dobbs

Stars:

Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell, Joel Grey

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Irons	...	Franz Kafka
Theresa Russell	...	Gabriela
Joel Grey	...	Burgel
Ian Holm	...	Doctor Murnau
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Bizzlebek
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Grubach
Alec Guinness	...	The Chief Clerk
Brian Glover	...	Castle Henchman
Keith Allen	...	Assistant Ludwig
Simon McBurney	...	Assistant Oscar
Robert Flemyng	...	The Keeper of the Files
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Concierge
Ion Caramitru	...	Solemn Anarchist
Hilde Van Mieghem	...	Female Anarchist (as Hilde Van Meighem)
Jan Nemejovský	...	Mustachioed Anarchist

Storyline

Kafka, an insurance worker gets embroiled in an underground group after a co-worker is murdered. The underground group is responsible for bombings all over town, attempting to thwart a secret organization that controls the major events in society. He eventually penetrates the secret organization and must confront them.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | alternate reality | prague czech republic | revolutionary | bureaucracy | 

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Taglines:

To solve a mystery he will enter a nightmare.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

When searching for Edward in the "Café Continental", as he exits, some of his friends ask Kafka: "What are you working on?" He replies:" A thing about a man who wakes up and finds himself transformed into a giant insect!" This is a direct reference to Franz Kafka's novel: "The Metamorphosis", which was, in reality, published five years before this event in the movie.

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Quotes

Oscar: It's not too bad working here, though.
Franz Kafka: You've never felt it was a horrible double life, from which there was probably no escape but insanity?
Ludwig: Yes!
Oscar: No.
Ludwig: No.

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Connections

References M (1931)

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Soundtracks

Walk With The Anarchists
Composed by Cliff Martinez
(p) & © 1992 Virgin Records America, Inc.
distributed by WEA through arrangement with Atlantic Records.

User Reviews

It's all a conspiracy...

This is a really weird movie. People will instantly recognize that it is an adaptation of Franz Kafka's writing, and that's exactly what it is. It isn't an adaptation of any one book of his, but rather of his writing as a whole. All the Kafka-esquire things you'd expect are here: conspiracy, paranoia, mystery, and the like. What is so amazing that they come together absolutely fantastically. The cinematography is especially ingenious and really captures the mysterious and cryptic look and feel of a Kafka tale. The use of color and B&W is pretty simple, but very effective. In fact the whole movie is pretty simple, there are no spectacular stunts or extraordinary set pieces, just a relentless, nail-biting, suspense as Kafka searches for answers to who murdered his friend. He receives help from a supposed rebel group who talks of a secret order and conspiracy that works from the confines of a mysterious looking building outside of town, but they are soon murdered...so Kafka goes to find the truth for himself. First-rate suspense all the way. 10/10

Rated PG-13: some violence and grim content

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kafka

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$40,814, 8 December 1991

Gross USA:

$1,059,071

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,059,071

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baltimore Pictures, Pricel, Renn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 92 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1