Kafka (1991)

57% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(4,710 ratings)

Steve Soderbergh did a 180 degree turnaround from his debut film sex, lies, and videotape with Kafka, a stark art-film fable for literature majors. Jeremy Irons plays a fictional Franz Kafka, living in Prague in 1919. By day, Kafka works in a massive, impersonal insurance company. At night, he… More Steve Soderbergh did a 180 degree turnaround from his debut film sex, lies, and videotape with Kafka, a stark art-film fable for literature majors. Jeremy Irons plays a fictional Franz Kafka, living in Prague in 1919. By day, Kafka works in a massive, impersonal insurance company. At night, he spends his time alone writing stories about men who turn into giant cockroaches. Although quiet and solitary, he becomes a suspect in a murder investigation conducted by Inspector Grubach (Armin Mueller-Stahl) when a friend of his turns up dead. Rather than being harassed by Grubach, Kafka decides to investigate his friend's murder on his own. Kafka speaks to his dead friend's girlfriend, Gabriela (Theresa Russell) and talks with gravestone carver Bizzlebek (Jeroen Krabbe). Kafka follows the clues to the Castle, a menacing tower that casts its shadow over the city and houses files on everything. He winds his way through the cellars and tunnels of the Castle, where he encounters the evil and insidious Dr. Murnau (Ian Holm), whom he hopes holds the solution to the murder. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Stephen Soderbergh, Steven Soderbergh
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Dec 22, 1992
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Steven Soderbergh's Kafka is a very bad well-directed movie.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Soderbergh does demonstrate again here that he's a gifted director, however unwise in his choice of project.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A movie about Franz Kafka? It's a good idea for a microsecond. Then it dissolves into a dumb proposition.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The effect is artistic, but it's also obvious when the material cried out for unsettling.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
All the Kafka basics are there for the literary types to muse over and it has great entertainment value in its unpretentious playfulness.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Soderbergh's sophomore jinx, a pastiche of styles (noir, German Expressionism) and themes (creativity, personal and political oppression) at the center of which is the vastly miscast Jeremy Irons as the Jewish writer involved in a senseless murder mystery
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
the film has a shallow, sophomoric earnestness
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal
Incomprehensible but interesting.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of Soderbergh's most fascinating films.
Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com
Overwrought over long and over indulgent
Greg Muskewitz, eFilmCritic.com
Lem Dobb's script doesn't rely on comprehension or linearity, but the whole scope of the project has its compelling root.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Steve K

Beautiful to look at but ever so slight.
Doctor S

Moody, mysterious, and measured thriller shot in beautiful black & white except for a pivotal sequence inside "the Castle." Soderbergh's best film is quite unlike any other in dropping Jeremy Irons, utterly convincing as Franz Kafka circa 1919 Prague, amidst a very… More
Moody, mysterious, and measured thriller shot in beautiful black & white except for a pivotal sequence inside "the Castle." Soderbergh's best film is quite unlike any other in dropping Jeremy Irons, utterly convincing as Franz Kafka circa 1919 Prague, amidst a very Kafkaesque series of encounters. The insurance clerk's appointed assistants are two of the funniest oddball characters in film history. I last watched this 15 years ago until tonight and was completely reaffirmed why this remains one of my favorites of the 1990s.
Anthony V

Under appreciated Soderbergh gem.

Cast

            Jeremy Irons as Kafka

            Theresa Russell as Gabriela

            Joel Grey as Burgel

            Ian Holm as Dr. Murnau

            Jeroen Krabbé as Bizzlebek

            Alec Guinness as The Chief Clerk

            Armin Mueller-Stahl as Inspector Grubach

            Keith Allen as Assistant Ludwig

            Simon McBurney as Assistant Oscar

            Robert Flemyng as The Keeper of the Flies

            Toon Agterberg as Youthful Anarchist

            Karel Belohradsky as Inspector's Assistant

            Vitezsalv Bouchner as Lens Cleaner

            Ion Caramitru as Solemn Anarchist

            Guy Fithen as Friend of Kafka

            Jerome Flynn as Castle Attendant

            Brian Glover as Castle Henchman

            Vladimir Gut as Edward

            Zuzana Halustokov as Friend of Kafka

            Ondrej Havelka as Friend of Kafka

            Petr Jakl as Quarry Laborer

            Dave Jensen as The Laughing Man

            Lenka Korinkova as Friend of Kafka

            Robert Krejcik as Evil Wagon Driver

            Petr Lepsa as Friend of Kafka

            James McPhee as Castle Attendant

            Maria Miles as Anna

            Pavel Myslik as Vagrant

            Jan Nemejovsky as Mustachioed Anarchist

            David Shaw Parker as Interrogating Attendant

            Lubos Rychvalsky as Kidnapped Vagrant

            Josef Sebek as Inspector's Assistant

            Leon Silver as Friend of Kafka

            Jan Slovák as Man at Bar

            Ewan Stewart as Castle Attendant

            Frantisek Stufka as Vagrant

            Hilde Van Mieghem as Female Anarchist

            Debora Weston as Friend of Kafka

            Emil Wolk as Man Under Microscope

            Matyelok Gibbs as Concierge

            Josef Abrhám as Friend of Kafka

            Alec Guiness
            
See full cast