Kafka

The narrative unfolds in the immediate post–World War I era, a period of political upheaval and social change. Prague is a city where old empires crumble and new powers seek to assert control, creating a climate of secrecy and risk. The era’s uncertainty amplifies Kafka’s journey into a shadow world of conspiracies and moral questions.

Set in 1919 Prague, the film grounds its story in a city famed for its medieval streets and looming castle. The capital—then part of the new postwar state—provides a backdrop of bureaucratic corridors, hidden networks, and shadowy power. Its historical architecture mirrors the oppressive reach of the secret organization Kafka confronts. The city itself feels like a labyrinth that reflects the protagonist's moral maze.

🗝️ Power

A hidden organization pulls strings behind public events, revealing how authority can operate unseen. The castle and its labyrinth symbolize how power guards its secrets and maintains control. Kafka's intrusion into this world tests his willingness to resist a system that cannot be easily faced. The film questions whether individual integrity can confront overwhelming structures.

⚖️ Morality

Kafka grapples with justice, complicity, and personal responsibility as he uncovers unsettling truths. The danger of truth becomes clear when knowledge invites retaliation. The narrative invites viewers to weigh ethics against survival within a corrupt order. It probes whether doing right is enough when the system remains intact.

🌫️ Reality and Surrealism

The story blurs Kafka's everyday life with surreal, nightmarish elements drawn from his writing. The castle's corridors feel like a dreamscape that reflects internal fear and existential questions about freedom. Events seem manipulated by a hidden design, challenging what is real. The tension between perception and truth mirrors Kafka's own literary concerns.