Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life (1993)

This film is for anyone who has actually read Kafka--and not just the CliffNotes! Because he is one of those "great and important authors" we hear about in literature, most likely very few people ever got around to actually reading his work. Plus, to make things worse, Kafka had a bad habit of dying and not finishing his stories! What nerve! So, if you have actually read Kafka, then this film is for you--others need not bother.The film shows Richard E. Grant as Kafka and he's in the middle of writing "Metamorphosis"--the story of a guy who, believe it or not, wakes up to find himself a giant cockroach! This is the actual story--not something I am making up! However, in the film, Kafka has a terrible case of writer's block as he tries to work through the plot. He's to the point where the man wakes up and finds that he's become a.....and then SOMETHING interrupts! It's either neighbors in another flat partying loudly, a loud saleslady delivering something to the wrong apartment, a professional knife sharpener looking for his conscience ("Jimminy Cockroach") or bugs running about his apartment.It's all a very well made absurdist sort of parody that will make you laugh if, and only if, you understand the jokes. A wonderful film for literature professors and lunatics like myself who have actually read Kafka--all others need not apply.

Franz Kafka sits in his apartment trying to write "The Metamorphosis", but is bothered by a man selling knives and hacksaws, women throwing a party and a lady selling gag gifts. This, mixed with a twisted version of the Frank Capra film this movie is named after, makes for an interesting time.One reviewer summarized this film as "Monty Python meets Orson Welles over the body of Franz Kafka with spectacular results!" I can see that. The Monty Python is the oddball humor, and the Franz Kafka is the main plot. But the Orson Welles really stands out, too, and maybe would not have if I had not read the review. The scenes in this film rely heavily on odd camera shots, many of them from under the floorboards or up stairs, giving the "larger than life" look Welles had in "Citizen Kane" when the cameraman sat in dug out hole. (Try it yourself, taking someone's photograph from a seated position while they stand -- gigantic!) The main character (Kafka) is played beautifully by Richard E. Grant. I obviously never met Kafka personally, but Grant portrays him as a paranoid and idiosyncratic, eccentric germophobe. Yeah, I think that pretty much captures the idea (have you read Kafka's "The Trial"?). Grant is known from other projects, but this might well be his master performance.The secondary characters are also nice... the salesman is great and the woman at the party is perfect for the role. And we need not forget the man playing Gregor Samsa... nice acting and fine singing! The way the footage for the Samsa parts was made to look very old (1920s) was a nice touch, giving off a comedic Charlie Chaplinesque quality.If you can find this in your local video store, pick it up. As a short film, even if you don't like it, the movie will be over before you realize it. But I'd bet dollars to doughnuts you'll love it as much as me. This one really takes the original idea and runs with it... to Oscar gold.

Franz Kafka is probably still spinning over this one almost ten years after the fact. There are echos of suspense in this one, but mostly it resembles Python at its full-bore, full throttle best. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the costumer here also did costumes for The Python series. Too many moments to pick anything out, but it is absolutely wonderful. The incredibly serious among you will probably gnash teeth and pound thy breasts over the violation of Kafka, but the sufficiently twisted will love this! This won the Academy Award for Live-Action Short (in a tie with Trevor, he noted for accuracy's sake) and it's good to see this in print and available. Most highly recommended.

As its name suggests, this short film cross-breeds Kafka with Capra. Kafka is pestered by neighbours, children, and the sinister Woland the Knifeman (who suspects Kakfa of killing his pet beetle). This is a delightful dark comedy pastiche, Richard E Grant performing at his nervy best in a sinister but ultimately heartwarming film.