The term “Kafkaesque” is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Kafka’s work. How would you best describe this? How is this film “Kafkaesque”?
Franz Kafka, Czech-born and German-speaking writer, is recognized by the nightmarish qualities he is able to put into his fictional world, making his works characterized by their portrayal of this nightmarish reality of isolated and threatened individuals in a mundane context. His novel, The Metamorphosis for example, written in 1917, expresses his ideas towards class, politics and isolation, as well as the absurd. The style of his work is so unique that it has influenced the style of not only writers, but also other areas within the Arts. The term “Kafkaesque” is used to describe something that is characteristic or reminiscent of Kafka’s work. The film “Kafka” (1991) is an example of a “Kafkaesque” film.
The film “Kafka” is a mystery thriller film based on the life of Franz Kafka “blurring the lines between the real and the surreal, between fact and Kafka’s fiction”. The movie has been described as Kafkaesque. Here is the theatrical trailer for the film, just to show how the film can relate to Kafka’s works.
At first the film seems quite bizarre and as an observer one can’t directly see the similarities between the film and Kafka’s life and works, besides some direct reference to them. However, one of the most important aspects of Kafka’s literature, which is clearly seen in the film, is the difference between the real and the surreal, which in the movie is portrayed with the use of color. The entire film is shown in black and white color; maybe to maintain the time period of Kafka’s life, but also maybe to denote what is mundane, those things that happen every day, for example, Kafka’s work, and his daily life. However, when the film reaches its climax and Kafka enters the Prague Castle, the film turns to color. By this moment one can decide which of these scenes is the surreal, and which is the real, since for us, the real would be actually denoted by the colored scenes.
Furthermore, an important aspect of the movie is its portrayal of the absurd and Kafka’s humor. The plot of the movie is based on the conflict between the upper class and the lower class, represented by the scientists and doctors trying to put the lower class and revolutionaries back into reality, by making them uniform, thus the entire brainwashing and torture they are doing in the castle. The absurd part of this dilemma is the fact that whatever Kafka does, or any revolutionary does, there is no way to change the system. This is clearly seen in the film, since all Kafka wanted to do was to find out the truth about the castle, and as soon as he does find out, he just leaves, and all returns back to black and white, back to reality. Kafka’s “sense of humor” is also portrayed in the film. As David Wallace described in his essay, Kafka’s humor is a “grotesque and gorgeous and thoroughly modern complexity”, and the man trying to kill everyone, who always ends up running around and screaming, portrays its nightmarish style.
Finally, there is some reference to Kafka’s own life and his work, throughout the film. The aspects of Kafka’s life conveyed in the film are mostly linked to his relationship with his father, who did not want his son to be a writer, showing his authoritative character. This reflects in Kafka’s own work since it leads to his complex character, and the style of his fiction, already described to be nightmarish and strange. This also reveals the relationship between the characters in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”. Moreover, the most important traits from Kafka’s personality are portrayed by Jeremy Irons, who plays Kafka in the film. He is usually described as someone who “leaves too much to himself” and “writes by myself, to myself”, mostly making people uneasy around him.
“Kafkaesque” is therefore a term used to describe those things that take aspects from Kafka’s nightmarish style and apply them to themselves. In my opinion, the most important aspects that should be used in order for a work to be reminiscent of Kafka is its portrayal of the real and the surreal, as well as the absurdity of life. Therefore, the film “Kafka” is a “Kafkaesque” film, and although it is very hard to understand this at first, towards the end, one begins to realize how it has managed to be similar to Kafka’s own work.
Javiera, this is a very thought-provoking piece you've written and I agree with many of the points you said. I find your point that discusses the color scenes to be surreal and the black and white scenes to be real very interesting. However, I am very interested in the aspect about The Metamorphosis which you touched upon but did not really expand on. I would love to know what you think is absurd about the relationships in The Metamorphosis and how you can connect that to "Kafka" ! In Asim's blog (http://asimlikesenglish.blogspot.com/), he discussed both "The Metamorphosis" and "Kafka" which could help you with developing your idea about connecting "The Metamorphosis" to absurdity and "Kafka".
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would love to know more about what you think about Kafka's humor! In my blog, (http://hlenglishmonique.blogspot.com) I wrote that the Kafka's humor can be observed when the ugly monster chasing after a man was seen to be funny to me and many of the audience members. Why is this? I believe that Kafka's humor is much more crueler and sinister which is what creates that unique sense of humor to it. What do you think?
Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog :) Great job!
Hi Monique! I am glad you enjoyed reading my blog. Answering your questions, true, what intrigued me the most when writing this entry was the way in which the movie is able to portray the real and the surreal, a very important characteristic of Kafka's writing.
ReplyDeleteI read Asim's blog on his interpretation of Kafkaesque and I must say it helped me a lot to understand this aspect which I did not develop in the entry. From reading your blog and Asim's, I can see how both the film and the novella portray Kafka's "absurdity". I mentioned in my blog how I thought the film portrayed the absurd by being the plot somewhat absurd, and how Kafka after struggling so much over what was going on in the castle does nothing in the end to solve it. The fact that Gregor transforms into a bug in one night in The Metamorphosis is Kafka's portrayal of the absurd. I would also have to agree with Asim's blog, since the family's attitude is also extremely absurd.
Finally, regarding Kafka's humor I agree with what you are saying. I also believe that Kafka's humor is weird, sinister and sometimes even grotesque. Maybe it is not meant to be funny or understood, but maybe to make the reader feel awkward. Do you have any further comments about Kafka's humor?
Asim's blog also discusses the ironic aspect of the film and the novella. What do you think about this?
I'm glad you find Asim's and my blog helpful:)
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not have any further comments about Kafka's humor however, I did laugh during the film so I wouldn't say that Kafka's humor is meant to make you feel awkward. I would say that Kafka takes a different approach to creating humor.
After reading Asim's ironic perspective to "Kafka", I agreed how ironic the timing was when Kafka discovered the truth of the Castle and was writing to reconcile his differences with his father, he coughed up blood which told the audience that he was going to die soon.
I would like to point out another ironic point in "The Metamorphosis" that Asim did not mention. I felt that in "The Metamorphosis" what was truly ironic was how his job before his transformation was a travelling business man and he hated it so much! Then after his transformation, in a way, his wish came true because he was trapped under the sofa and could not travel because of the horror he could cause to his family.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Javiera,
ReplyDeletethis is Julie, but it didn't let me post my comment with my account so here it is!
I agree with you on the role of the color in the film. I think you had a better understanding of the David Wallace’s article about Kafka’s unique sense of humor than I did =). I also see that you have noticed that the relationship between Kafka’s father and Kafka was portrayed in the movie, which I think was important because from what I know, authors always put into their writing what has influenced them significantly. Maybe Kafka wanted good relationship with his father all along.
The one that I am still kind of confused about is Kafka’s humor. As Monique said, if his humor is “weird”, “sinister”, and “grotesque”, is it even a humor? If we feel awkward but lack tendency laugh, would you consider that a humor? Unlike Monique, I did not laugh during the movie, but I just thought it was weird and a bit creepy. Can you expand more on what you think of Kafka’s humor? Did you find it funny?