"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.

This film is for anyone who has actually read Kafka--and not just the CliffNotes! Because he is one of those "great and important authors" we hear about in literature, most likely very few people ever got around to actually reading his work. Plus, to make things worse, Kafka had a bad habit of dying and not finishing his stories! What nerve! So, if you have actually read Kafka, then this film is for you--others need not bother.The film shows Richard E. Grant as Kafka and he's in the middle of writing "Metamorphosis"--the story of a guy who, believe it or not, wakes up to find himself a giant cockroach! This is the actual story--not something I am making up! However, in the film, Kafka has a terrible case of writer's block as he tries to work through the plot. He's to the point where the man wakes up and finds that he's become a.....and then SOMETHING interrupts! It's either neighbors in another flat partying loudly, a loud saleslady delivering something to the wrong apartment, a professional knife sharpener looking for his conscience ("Jimminy Cockroach") or bugs running about his apartment.It's all a very well made absurdist sort of parody that will make you laugh if, and only if, you understand the jokes. A wonderful film for literature professors and lunatics like myself who have actually read Kafka--all others need not apply.

A slip of the tongue by actor Peter Capaldi's wife inspired him to write and make this Oscar winning gem. Richard E. Grant gives wonderful performance as the tortured Franz Kafka who struggles with the opening line of 'Metamorphosis' amid the distractions of his dark and sinister rooming house. Disturbances include a girls party, a lady trying to deliver a giant insect costume' and a psychotic knife sharpener, (another marvellous performance by Ken Stott),who has lost his little friend.The black and white cutaway sequences showing his various inspirations for Gregor transformations are hilarious. The final scene, where the story strands are tied up and all the characters brought together in a twisted version of the finale of 'It's a Wonderful Life' is funny and moving at the same time.The perfect Christmas film for the slightly odd.

Franz Kafka is probably still spinning over this one almost ten years after the fact. There are echos of suspense in this one, but mostly it resembles Python at its full-bore, full throttle best. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the costumer here also did costumes for The Python series. Too many moments to pick anything out, but it is absolutely wonderful. The incredibly serious among you will probably gnash teeth and pound thy breasts over the violation of Kafka, but the sufficiently twisted will love this! This won the Academy Award for Live-Action Short (in a tie with Trevor, he noted for accuracy's sake) and it's good to see this in print and available. Most highly recommended.