I absolutely love long takes and Welles was a master at using them, along with carefully choreographed camera moves. The opening shot, starting with K waking up, lasts almost 5 minutes is one of my favorite openings in a film ever. It's also got some impeccable comic timing and touches by Welles, such as the phonograph / pornograph line and the sudden entrance of the 2nd inspector who asks "why would you want to dress in the hall?" as if he'd suddenly let slip some clue about a murder.
Is it just me or Welles' vision of Josef K. is of a much weaker and fragile man than what is presented in the novel? I remember him being more confident than that.
@buzinaocara Hi. I think you're right. I don't think Joseph K was as nervous as perkins conveys. He was as you suggest, quite confident and logical. I also think that fact is critical to the original story.
@buzinaocara I'll second you being right in my humble opinion. Having read the book again recently & seeing this now I share the same observation. So nice to see people talking about the facts for a change rather than abusing each others opinions. I have to watch this film in it's entirety. A film adaptation of Albert Camus The Stranger was also on youtube, I want to watch that again now too.
The opening narrative still stands incredibly potent today, as individuals are constantly taken further and further away from their inner truths by the dominant cultural crap that assails us. And preparing to our own death IS our life's ultimate purpose. Welles' stuff is very evocative of Heidegger's philosophy, in this respect
What I don't understand is: even if that door was meant only for the man from the country, how would that keep all the others that strive to attain the law away? They would still have to come to the door, seeking admittance and than be told by the guard that that door wasn't meant for them. So how come they never did?
@MissPompousTwat Because any man who would seek the Door of the Law would arrive at his Own, specific, Door, not just any door. Ergo, it was impossible for any man to go to another man's Door. For each man, there is One Door. One which he will never enter.
Basically, the film says that the Little Man will never attain the Law, and will never find Justice.
That's an interesting interpretation. Just to make it clear: when you talk about there being a door for each visiting justice-seeker, you don't mean the doors mentioned by the guard "from hall to hall, door after door...", do you?
I do have a problem with your "One he will never enter" statement. If it were true that he could never enter that first door, then why is there a need for an infinite sequence of doors and guards after the first door? Or was the guard just bluffing?
@MissPompousTwat First answer: No, I don't refer to the door after door that the guard speaks of. That, I think, is an allegory of the many steps a person has to go through, many legal procedures, in order to complete a case of Law.
Second answer: I am not talking about what happens in real life, but rather what I *believe* Kafka wants to point out. That the legal system is broken and corrupt, leaving no room for true justice, except for those who can afford it.
mm I liked the book but I don't really like how Joseph K. is portrayed here. I pictured him much more stoic and egotistic who slowly grows paranoid as the story progresses. I have to say I liked Tim Roth's portrayal much better, even if the scenery did not match too much of the book. The lighting and perspectives here are much better though :)
I understood this ullusion. I think I know the sort of person this illusion would scare more than me though it did disturb me too. Infact, I know someone who I'm certain lcosed many of his own doors to become insufferable to the door of the Trial br Kafka.
Welles apparently said of his movie that it is a comedy. A friend of mine believes Scarface (DePalma version) is also a comedy. If so, then there is a way of looking at The Trial as a comedy. When I try to see it as a comedy, it somehow works as one...in a very strange way.
I meant no joke at all. I havent seen this Welles's movie yet, just this opening scene here on youtube. But, comparing this first scene in Joseph K.'s place, I think the 93's version is way better.
Someone once said (was it Peter Bogdanovich?) that during the making of the movie it looked like there was a competition going on between Kafka and Orson Welles; with Kafka coming out second best.
It is excellent, but I liked "The Metamorphosis" much better. I had to read both in an English literature course during my undergrad, but didn't truly appreciate Kafka until I returned to his works more recently.
Someone once said..." it looks as if Orson Welleswas trying to compete with Kafka" and Kafka came out second best.
GabyMatthys 2 months ago
One of my favorite openings to a film
TheQuentinStuckey 2 months ago
This is Art of the highest form. One of the greatest film directors, Orson Welles, doing his version of one of the greatest writers, Franz Kafka.
Cinema meets Literature. Perfekt!
tool619 4 months ago
I absolutely love long takes and Welles was a master at using them, along with carefully choreographed camera moves. The opening shot, starting with K waking up, lasts almost 5 minutes is one of my favorite openings in a film ever. It's also got some impeccable comic timing and touches by Welles, such as the phonograph / pornograph line and the sudden entrance of the 2nd inspector who asks "why would you want to dress in the hall?" as if he'd suddenly let slip some clue about a murder.
ResearchSubjectX 6 months ago
Is it just me or Welles' vision of Josef K. is of a much weaker and fragile man than what is presented in the novel? I remember him being more confident than that.
buzinaocara 8 months ago
@buzinaocara Hi. I think you're right. I don't think Joseph K was as nervous as perkins conveys. He was as you suggest, quite confident and logical. I also think that fact is critical to the original story.
mrfreudable 7 months ago
@buzinaocara I'll second you being right in my humble opinion. Having read the book again recently & seeing this now I share the same observation. So nice to see people talking about the facts for a change rather than abusing each others opinions. I have to watch this film in it's entirety. A film adaptation of Albert Camus The Stranger was also on youtube, I want to watch that again now too.
roblonolean 7 months ago
The opening narrative still stands incredibly potent today, as individuals are constantly taken further and further away from their inner truths by the dominant cultural crap that assails us. And preparing to our own death IS our life's ultimate purpose. Welles' stuff is very evocative of Heidegger's philosophy, in this respect
clipsupreme 9 months ago
The law is not unique to the culture, but the individual
THEn00b557 10 months ago
@THEn00b557
What I don't understand is: even if that door was meant only for the man from the country, how would that keep all the others that strive to attain the law away? They would still have to come to the door, seeking admittance and than be told by the guard that that door wasn't meant for them. So how come they never did?
MissPompousTwat 6 months ago
@MissPompousTwat Because any man who would seek the Door of the Law would arrive at his Own, specific, Door, not just any door. Ergo, it was impossible for any man to go to another man's Door. For each man, there is One Door. One which he will never enter.
Basically, the film says that the Little Man will never attain the Law, and will never find Justice.
MediaManPower 5 months ago
@MediaManPower
That's an interesting interpretation. Just to make it clear: when you talk about there being a door for each visiting justice-seeker, you don't mean the doors mentioned by the guard "from hall to hall, door after door...", do you?
I do have a problem with your "One he will never enter" statement. If it were true that he could never enter that first door, then why is there a need for an infinite sequence of doors and guards after the first door? Or was the guard just bluffing?
MissPompousTwat 5 months ago
@MissPompousTwat First answer: No, I don't refer to the door after door that the guard speaks of. That, I think, is an allegory of the many steps a person has to go through, many legal procedures, in order to complete a case of Law.
Second answer: I am not talking about what happens in real life, but rather what I *believe* Kafka wants to point out. That the legal system is broken and corrupt, leaving no room for true justice, except for those who can afford it.
MediaManPower 5 months ago
Fuck CITIZEN KANE!... This is Orsen Welles best film by far!-and Anthony Perkins was always a highly underated actor as well!
TheStaticage01 10 months ago
@TheStaticage01 Orson welles thought so too.
Dontmakemecomeover5 4 months ago
@Dontmakemecomeover5 Sweet - Thanks!
TheStaticage01 4 months ago
mm I liked the book but I don't really like how Joseph K. is portrayed here. I pictured him much more stoic and egotistic who slowly grows paranoid as the story progresses. I have to say I liked Tim Roth's portrayal much better, even if the scenery did not match too much of the book. The lighting and perspectives here are much better though :)
JTeamjesters 11 months ago
i watched the first 10 minutes of this movie in class today. It was a great class. :D
konoha1993 1 year ago
poor K =(
PaulThePuppetier 1 year ago
I understood this ullusion. I think I know the sort of person this illusion would scare more than me though it did disturb me too. Infact, I know someone who I'm certain lcosed many of his own doors to become insufferable to the door of the Trial br Kafka.
fredbloggs02 1 year ago
the novel IS a masterpiece and who better than Orson Welles to direct the film?
fangorabbc 1 year ago 4
I seemed to get from the book ,which I haven't finished that K was alot more confident and witty and a little self important.
violadude2 1 year ago 2
Welles apparently said of his movie that it is a comedy. A friend of mine believes Scarface (DePalma version) is also a comedy. If so, then there is a way of looking at The Trial as a comedy. When I try to see it as a comedy, it somehow works as one...in a very strange way.
Novak67766 1 year ago
That was a great video but it's a shame he gave up.
tsarge1976 1 year ago
You guys NEED to read Anna Kavan....She is the "sister" of Kafka...but more contemporary......Great art
MarkBade 1 year ago
Is the whole movie here?
KassraPirooz 2 years ago
there is no better version
epacse 2 years ago
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Very different from the book... Could've been better, like the 93's version.
FabioGrohI 2 years ago
FabioGrohl: I really hope that was a joke... wtf
Vesters1 2 years ago
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I meant no joke at all. I havent seen this Welles's movie yet, just this opening scene here on youtube. But, comparing this first scene in Joseph K.'s place, I think the 93's version is way better.
FabioGrohI 2 years ago
well, Welles is a masterpiece alongside with Citizen Kane.
Vesters1 2 years ago
Well Kafka's sort of thing is a thing I ... watch every day, wondering when the bad piece will end.
bixby2000 2 years ago
Probably one of the best opening scene to any movie in my book. Great shot.
ivanclaysburgh 3 years ago 2
The fact that readers find the book confusing is precisely Kafka's point; as humans the limits of our perception are vast and unconquerable.
karmie87 3 years ago 8
have you read the book?
tony15virgo 2 years ago
Yeah, I wrote a university paper on him, it was fascinating. Now writing a paper on his master piece; 'Metamorphosis'.
karmie87 2 years ago
can u help me with my hw please?? lol
tony15virgo 2 years ago
In what way? I'm training to be a teacher so probably. What u want to know?
karmie87 2 years ago
the novel is a masterpiece, and this film is up to it
037016 3 years ago 10
@037016 It is by Kafka's own admission incomplete, though.
lorenzoferlinghetti 1 year ago
@lorenzoferlinghetti So it is, but nonetheless, fascinating.
037016 1 year ago
Greatly underrated Welles film.
NGS712 3 years ago 3
Someone once said (was it Peter Bogdanovich?) that during the making of the movie it looked like there was a competition going on between Kafka and Orson Welles; with Kafka coming out second best.
GabyMatthys 3 years ago 2
i absolutely loved the book, kafka is god.
Salamayamini 3 years ago
It is excellent, but I liked "The Metamorphosis" much better. I had to read both in an English literature course during my undergrad, but didn't truly appreciate Kafka until I returned to his works more recently.
bosman1988 2 years ago
ahh the book made not so much sense...this is definitely a big help.
duckfoot23 3 years ago
Yeah, this is one time where the movie helps a lot.
georgiadawg18 3 years ago
i loved the book.
looking forward to see the movie.
ScratchVideos 3 years ago
Good movie. I have the laserdisc!
ComicsAroundTheBay 3 years ago