A stylised version of the life of Czech writer Franz Kafka is brought to the silver screen in Franz. Source: Australian Catholics.
Directed by veteran Polish director Agnieszka Holland, Franz is a thoughtful study of the writer, known and admired for his bleak explorations of human character portrayed in his novels and short stories.
The treatment of Kafka, his character, life and career, is highly stylised. Holland uses colour and black-and-white photography, musical elements and different timelines.
Characters even look to camera, inviting the audience to respond and reflect.
Many characters offer commentary – the blind organist, his friend Max Brod who saved his manuscripts from the Nazis when Kafka had asked them to be burnt.
And, surprisingly, at different points the screenplay shifts into the 21st century, with admirers and tourists at the Kafka Museum..
Taken as a whole, these elements mean that the audience is continually changing its perspective. We see Kafka as a little boy, with a large, dominating father, as well as Kafka as an adult, working as a clerk and civil servant, writing his stories by hand, collaborating with friends and having love affairs with women.
The film explores issues of belief with Kafka’s Jewish background, portraying questions of faith and lack of it.
This film does not offer a complete portrait of Kafka, but it may be a provocation for audiences to find out more about him, read his books and discover his influence on 20th-century thought.
Franz: Starring Idan Weiss, Peter Kurth. Directed by Agnieszka Holland. 127 minutes. Rated MA (Strong violence, nudity and sex scenes).
FULL STORY
Franz (Australian Catholics)
