Gregor Samsa's worst nightmare of all is transformed into a fairly faithful film adaptation on the hands of Jan Nemec in this good TV movie. Kafka's notorious "The Metamorphosis" is known by everybody, readers and non readers so I won't even bother detailing the story, cause the movie follow such quite rigidly, with some minor alternatives - or at least I think there were some changes, specially towards the conclusion, partly because I've read the book a long time ago and I don't remember the follow-up after Samsa's fate.
What I loved about "Die Verwandlung": Gregor Samsa is never seen. Ever. Neither as human, neither as an insect - we have to imagine how he looks like; however, the story is viewed through his optic, brilliantly captured by a cinematography filming in unusual angles or with the members of Samsa family breaking the fourth wall as if we in the audience were transformed into Gregor-turned into insect. Samsa's challenge is thrown back at us. And the humor! Yes, Kafka's humor, commonly referenced by many specialists as one of his strongest points, even though his stories were eternally depressing, chaotic, nightmarish and kafkaesque so to say, but there's always hints of humor in it (for those with eyes and minds to see...); anyway, that humor is very evident. It's all desperation to the main character but there's room for laughter when the new tenants pop in the Samsa's family residence. Mannerisms, situations and a lot awkwardness is presented, all collected in slightly delightful sequences that makes us see the fun in such an absurd scenario.
So, if you're lazy in terms of reading, this can be a little helpful in understanding what the classic is all about BUT it's no replacement for the wonderful book since it can't fully represent the countless deep interpretations on what the metamorphosis actually symbolizes (there's many valid theories, mine reflects on political/sexual issues). Well acted and very short, a harmless adaptation, my favorite so far. 7/10
What I loved about "Die Verwandlung": Gregor Samsa is never seen. Ever. Neither as human, neither as an insect - we have to imagine how he looks like; however, the story is viewed through his optic, brilliantly captured by a cinematography filming in unusual angles or with the members of Samsa family breaking the fourth wall as if we in the audience were transformed into Gregor-turned into insect. Samsa's challenge is thrown back at us. And the humor! Yes, Kafka's humor, commonly referenced by many specialists as one of his strongest points, even though his stories were eternally depressing, chaotic, nightmarish and kafkaesque so to say, but there's always hints of humor in it (for those with eyes and minds to see...); anyway, that humor is very evident. It's all desperation to the main character but there's room for laughter when the new tenants pop in the Samsa's family residence. Mannerisms, situations and a lot awkwardness is presented, all collected in slightly delightful sequences that makes us see the fun in such an absurd scenario.
So, if you're lazy in terms of reading, this can be a little helpful in understanding what the classic is all about BUT it's no replacement for the wonderful book since it can't fully represent the countless deep interpretations on what the metamorphosis actually symbolizes (there's many valid theories, mine reflects on political/sexual issues). Well acted and very short, a harmless adaptation, my favorite so far. 7/10
