JIFF: Kafka - Part 1

The Story

Australian Premiere 

“The best dramatisation of the life of the great Kafka that it’s possible to imagine…does a great service to one of the true giants of 20th-century literature.” - Salman Rushdie

“Kafka is simply brilliant…A drama of enormous emotional and intellectual power.” – Ian McEwan

“An irreverent biopic of the Prague-born author.” - The Guardian

100 years after the death of Franz Kafka comes this vividly original and critically acclaimed six-part series delving into the enigmatic life of arguably the greatest and most famous writer of the twentieth century, told from the perspective of those who knew him best.

At the heart of the series are Kafka’s love affairs with Felice Bauer, Milena Jesenska, and Dora Diamant, his difficult relationship with his tyrannical father, and his close friendship with Max Brod, who would ultimately come to betray his terminally ill friend, assuring his enduring fame in the process.

Hailed for its depth as well as offbeat tone, as adapted from Reiner Stach’s exhaustive three-volume biography of Kafka, the series finely weaves together the Jewish writer’s work and life, finding the connections and gaps between the two.

JIFF presents the Australian Premiere of all six episodes of Kafka across two parts. Part 1 includes episodes 1-3. Watch the two parts back-to-back or on different days. Tickets are sold separately.

For tickets to Part 2 (episodes 4-6) click here.

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

135 min

Cast

Joel Basman, David Kross, Lia von Blarer, Nicholas Ofczarek, Liv Lisa Fries, Robert Stadlober, Charly Hübner, Lars Eidinger

Director

David Schalko