Kafka (1991)

57% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(4,814 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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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 (personal and political oppression), further hampered by the vastly miscast Jeremy Irons.
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.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Quite often, the visual feast is enough to hold audience attention. But, in the end, it all feels rather empty.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
A stimulating blend of biography, hypothesis, interpretation and afterthought. It's a story about the 20th century.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Steve K

Beautiful to look at but ever so slight.
Stephen E

Mysterious and stylish but incoherent and empty, "Kafka" is a good-looking disappointment for director Steven Soderbergh. Impressive camerawork and snappy editing ensure that it won't be forgotten, but there just simply isn't enough going on to make it… More
Mysterious and stylish but incoherent and empty, "Kafka" is a good-looking disappointment for director Steven Soderbergh. Impressive camerawork and snappy editing ensure that it won't be forgotten, but there just simply isn't enough going on to make it entertaining. The characters and story are dull, and on top of that, it's confusing.
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.

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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 more (42)

Kafka (1991)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Steve K

Stephen E

Doctor S

Anthony V

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