Movie Review: Franz

Franz Kafka, S.Y. Agnon, Bruno Schulz and Etgar Keret are just a few of the surrealists who have influenced my own writing. Lately I've also enjoyed Leone Ross as well. Yesterday I ventured over to the Leederville Luna Palace Theatre to see three films. The first I saw was a biopic of Franz Kafka. It was a little harsh and grating at first, especially the scenes when he was trying to write amidst unbearable noise and racket. I'd say the film is worth seeing if you love the works of Kafka. Though the movie flashes back and forth between childhood and adulthood, and forward to show Kafka tourism, there is a linear plot arc. Last year I taught a Kafka story in my English class ("The Bucket Rider"). In our school, the seniors get to read "Metamorphosis". The film has nudity and sex, so I'll not be able to use it in my classroom. But I'm glad I saw it. Ideas and characters in "Amerika", "The Castle" and "The Trial" all figure heavily in my forthcoming novel Forthcoming.