Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life" is a 22-minute short film from 20 years ago that won an Academy Award (tied with another film) and BAFTA Award. The title gives away the action pretty much already. This is very much influenced by the black-and-white James Stewart Christmas classic mixed with a kafkaesque take and finally Peter Capaldi's unique take on comedy. If you have seen some of his works, such as "In the Loop", you will know what I mean. Capaldi is mostly an actor, so it's a bit strange that his greatest achievement in terms of awards comes for a film he wrote and directed. He is mostly known recently for playing Doctor Who, which elevated his popularity a lot again. Anyway, this work here did not really convince me. I did not find it a too interesting or memorable effort, even if the mix-up of these 2 characters was certainly an interesting idea. All in all, not recommended.

Prismark10 Written and directed by Peter Capaldi, better known as an actor but had aspiration to be a writer and directorThis short film (jointly) won an Oscar for the best short film category.Richard E Grant takes the title role as Franz Kafka trying to write the opening line of 'Metamorphosis' in his dark room whilst being disturbed by strange and sinister people. Grant who has in the past given uneven acting performances gives an inspired acting display.The black and white film is of course surreal and comic, almost Pythonesque. As the tile of the film implies it splices Kafka with Frank Capra!

Robert J. Maxwell Franz Kafka sits alone in his room at his writing desk, trying in desperation to begin a story. He begins writing and reciting to himself, "Gregor Samsa awoke one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic --", and then he stops, stumped. "A gigantic WHAT?" Kafka's gaze drifts about the dismal room and light on a bowl of fruit. Cut to an imaginary scene of Gregor Samsa waking up, completely covered by a sheet, struggling to free himself, only to reveal a giant -- BANANA.That's the opening scene, and to me it's the most shocking and amusing. You won't find much of Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" in here. It seems to provide only a kind of spine or notochord because, after Kafka loses the thread of the narrative, along with some other things, and is ridden by guilt over having squashed the cockroach that inspired him, he's given Christmas presents from the girls downstairs, every present being a jar of insects, ranging from cockroaches to maggots. Christmas bells begin ringing and the camera glides to the window where it is snowing. Yes, it's a wonderful life after all. To prove it, the final shot is of Gregor Samsa, now a beetle, lying on his back in bed and avidly singing "Ah, sweet mystery of life at last I've found thee" -- the whole first verse.I don't know exactly what to make of this 25-minute production. It had me wondering if someone had smoked one of those bananas we saw. It's rarely funny, mostly intense, and has a couple of absurd lines in it. "Is this a real conversation or an imaginary one?", asks the lady downstairs. We also get to meet a character who has a tiny beetle friend and seems to have lost it, until it's found again as one of the Christmas presents, recalling Thomas Mitchell and the missing money.All in all, it's confusing but in a most innovative way, as if someone had dumped haphazardly into a cocktail shaker Franz Kafka, George Bailey, Monty Python, and stray limbs and membrae of Eugene Ionescu. After a violent agitation, this is what came out.I don't think all that many people will laugh, but I don't think they'll be able to stop watching it either.

John Langbein (medrjel) When I saw this, I was intrigued. I was pleasantly suprised at it's dark, yet light style of wit. It will make you tense, then you will laugh. To describe it is really to give a lot away. Just check it out if you get a chance.