The weird narrative works for the material but not for me.

Style was there substance not so much 2.7

A mystery thriller where Franz Kafka's novels come to life from the author's point of view as a character and strange events lead him to discover a mysterious and dangerous underground organisation in Prague with dark purposes. The oppresive Kafkaesque atmosphere reminiscent of his work can be noted here with some bizarre and illogical scenes intended to confuse the audience. The combination of Kafka's life with the plots of The Castle and The Trial actually works quite well, despite the slow pace.

There seems to be two overall two side groups for this movie. Those who appreciate its stylistic touches but consider it sort of empty or inconsiderate, and those who find this movie an underrated gem. While I understand the former side, my thoughts are aiming more towards the latter. I appreciate how its ostensibly a biopic of Franz Kafka (who is never addressed as Franz) and combines aspects of his life with some of his own works like The Trial.

cinegeek.de Our Daily Free Stream: Steven Soderbergh - Kafka. Auch weiterhin kein neuer Soderbergh in Aussicht... Wie lange mag dieses Versprechen halten? - Wer erinnert sich noch an die tolle Entstehungsgeschichte von Steven Soderberghs Debüt? Wie er das Drehbuch in acht Tagen schrieb als er nach Hollywood fuhr? Wie er die Schauspieler gegen Rückstellung spielen liess und schliesslich alles "independent" finanzierte. Indie, das war damals noch ein Abenteuer und keine Marke! Schliesslich gewann Soderbergh überraschend Cannes und darf seitdem als "Godfather" des Indie Kinos gelten. Kafka war sein zweiter Film und spielt wie bereits sein Debüt vor allem in Innenräumen. Die sehen aus wie der wahrgewordene Albtraum eines Set-Designers - oder wie Kafkas Prag. Kafka wurde in Schwarzweiss gedreht, springt aber manchmal um und erscheint dann farbig wie ein billiger Science Fiction Film. Hauptrolle: Jeremy Irons, der Mann mit dem ewig leidenden Gesichtsausdruck. So ausgemerkgelt und bleich wie Irons stelle ich mir auch den Dichter Kafka vor. Er bewohnt seine eigene fiktionale Welt. Kafka lebt in Kafkas literarischem Szenrario (wobei Soderbergh aber auch andere filmische Quellen anzapft). Kafka schreibt Kurzgeschichten, so wie die über einen Mann und seine Transformation in eine Kakerlake. Sein Vertrauter heisst Eduard. Die Geliebte Eduards ist Gabriela (Theresa Russell), für Kafka aber stellt Leidenschaft eine Fremdsprache dar. Natürlich. Ich denke, dass Vorhaben, Kafka filmisch umzusetzen, dürfte eines der schwierigsten sein. Handeln seine Geschichten doch von selbstbezogenen Einsiedlern. Wie verfilmt man aber das Innere des Menschen? Die Kafka Verfilmungen, die ich zuvor sah, vermochten dieses Problem nicht zu lösen. Soderbergh versuchts zu umgehen, denn sein Film handelt doch eher von Kafkas Romanfiguren als dem Autoren selbst. Für mich gehört Kafka in den Bereich existentialistischer Träumereien, bei Soderbergh aber kommt er wie ein verrückter Forscher daher. Warum hat Soderbergh sich da rangewagt? Vermutlich ist er Kafka Bewunderer und versuchte sich daher an diesem filmischen Labyrinth. Einer aber passt nicht in diese Welt: Kafka selbst. Soderbergh beweist sich als guter Regisseur, doch der Stoff mag ungeschickt gewählt sein. Dann doch lieber wieder eine achttägige Tour bei der am Ende ein Drehbuch steht.

Probably one of the worst movies I have ever paid to see in a theatre (on a date). This film was disjointed with an overall horrible script. The acting is horrible despite a stellar cast. The viewer is not vested whatsoever. What's worse is there is no relation to Kafka, other than the style is Kafka-esque. No wonder this was the first of a series of Soderbergh bombs.

One of the best in my lifetime. Highly recommended.

It is hard to believe that this film was made by Stephen Soderbergh. Experimental and artistically stunning it is a film so coiled up in style and true to Franz Kafka's themes -- it is likely to only be of interest to philosophy and literature students. I loved it, but it will not make much sense without a solid understanding of Kafka and Modernism. Shane Meadows' cinematography and Leslie Tomkins' art direction are outstanding. A film one will either love or hate.

its not Soderbergh's finest, nor his worst. Jeremy Irons impersonates Kafka well, and captures the milieu of Prague in the 20's. Ian Holm and Armin Mueller Stahl, well, they are just veteran actors that you'd enjoy seeing in any film

Soderbergh, shot-for-shot is at the top of his game. The script is not. Kafka is lost in translation.

A little context would have gone a long way.

A masterpiece! As with reading author Kafka, so is the movie. A surrelistic blend of reality and weirdness. Jeremy Irons brings his usual quality to the film while Joel Grey ("Caberet") as his boss at an insurance company appears early in the film. Sadly, I had a tough time understanding the dialog due to the quick speaking English dialect! [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6e/Kafka_film.jpg/220px-Kafka_film.jpg[/img] Perhaps the French-American collaboration on the film destined this to be a flop at the box office, but that should NOT deter YOU from giving the film a chance. Sir Alec Guinness, Jeremy Irons, Joel Grey... now that's entertainment! (if you do not know any, or even one of these 3 names, suggest you get educated and stop ordering cognacs at my Cafe, asap) [img]http://www.unsungfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/kafka_04.jpg[/img] Jeremy Irons best Kafka is a 1991 mystery thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Ostensibly a biopic, based on the life of Franz Kafka, the film blurs the lines between fact and Kafka's fiction (most notably The Castle and The Trial), creating a Kafkaesque atmosphere. -- wikipedia Knowing all my Cafe Americain guests ie friends, I am quite certain it will appeal if not delight all of them! [img]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNtikNB62kMtMwBZObYN1eXmmsKOxIi5Qsl1b9TlOaPe5kDtKxVw[/img] Author Kafka, left...... Actor Kafka, right SEE the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R56lJ9twaNE Suspense drama, done like some Orson Welles Magnificent Ambersons type movie, had to have been a shock to audiences at the time. 3 of 4 RT members liked the film while half the paid critics, including Roger Ebert, disliked it. [img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfbOx0bNDkAP8CFj2Pyx2dNScH9W9KoKPoW0wHRRazaKcL5VYScQ[/img] SEE the entire film, judge for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_MmwyazJBk RT member reviews: 40% As every Soderbergh's movie, the direction is unique but the project he used this time is so not interesting and from the start to the end you feel a ... 50% Mysterious and stylish but incoherent and empty, "Kafka" is a good-looking disappointment for director Steven Soderbergh. Impressive camerawork and sn... [img]https://static.squarespace.com/static/51aef9f1e4b0df23589b86cb/51aefa64e4b005e6b6548c9c/51aefa69e4b005e6b65498f0/1359536355827/1000w/kafka3.jpg[/img] NOTES: 1 Released after Soderbergh's critically acclaimed debut Sex, Lies, and Videotape it was the first of what would be a series of low-budget box-office disappointments. 2 It has since become a cult film, being compared to Terry Gilliam's Brazil and David Cronenberg's Naked Lunch. [img]http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2626/kafka1991dvdripdivxqixvah8.jpg[/img] Jeremy Irons as Mr. Kafka Theresa Russell as Gabriela Joel Grey as Mr. Burgel Alec Guinness as Chief clerk Ian Holm as Doctor Murnau Jeroen Krabbé as Mr. Bizzlebek Armin Mueller-Stahl as Inspector Grubach Brian Glover as Castle henchman Keith Allen as Assistant Ludwig Simon McBurney as Assistant Oscar Robert Flemyng as Keeper of the Files Ion Caramitru as Solemn anarchist Josef Abrhám as Friend of Kafka Guy Fithen as Friend of Kafka Ondrej Havelka as Friend of Kafka Jerome Flynn as Castle attendant Ewan Stewart as Castle attendant Jim McPhee as Castle attendant Petr Jákl as Quarry labourer David Jensen as Laughing man [img]https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPtRS6PcrwZR6yzQn2HhbxmQll4mXPCW9bdAll3sBGeA545m808A[/img] My selection for the next Sherlock Holmes Directed by Steven Soderbergh Produced by Harry Benn Stuart Cornfeld Written by Lem Dobbs Music by Cliff Martinez Cinematography Walt Lloyd Editing by Steven Soderbergh Studio Baltimore Pictures Pricel Renn Productions Distributed by Miramax Films Release dates November 15, 1991 Running time 98 minutes [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRacjJLJfHZNjM96fW-rqt4S3gepmOuwylRP4fdTl-uF-hO1Dls[/img] Country France, United States Language English Budget $11,000,000 Box office $1,059,071 [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThn8O2DM_nGEm7SG-1yjKllvzmEnBhJi8DQSUP4JyIkJiHesBA[/img]

Bizarre And Enjoyable Arty Horror-Drama With Great Cast--Kafka, brought to life by Soderbergh!!

As every Soderbergh's movie, the direction is unique but the project he used this time is so not interesting and from the start to the end you feel a little bored.

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One of my favorites-Soderberg at his best.

Incerc sa il termin be Soderberg dar asta nu se prea duce nicaieri

since i totally feel asleep for the middle part of this film, i don't really have that much to say other than it's probably not the most accessible soderbergh i have ever seen, but quite ambitious in truly bizarre way.

METAMORPHOSIS, HUNGER ARTIST, AND MORE HIDDEN INSIDE!!!

Tres etrange, sans veritable histoire, ce plongeon dans l'oeuvre de KAFKA, a travers un personnage du nom du celebre auteur, beneficie de l'interpretation irreprochable de JEREMY IRONS et de la realisation fantastique de STEVEN SODERBERGH, il manque malheureusement a ce film un fil conducteur.