Event series
Facets of Kafka

Marking the Centenary of the Death of Franz Kafka

As the Kafka centenerary year is drawing to its close, we invite you to explore different facets of the author’s work, life and passions through film, drawing, and poetry. Please scroll down for the schedule of the series, which will continue until 3 December 2024.

Running from Friday, 15 – Wednesday, 27 November, our season Kafka + Film will start and end with films that in very different ways provide an insight into Kafka’s life and times. While Hanns Zischler’s playful essay film Kafka Goes to the Movies (2002) explores the author’s fascination with the early films of his time, The Glory of Life (2024) focuses on the final year of the author’s life and his love relationship with Dora Diamant.  Bracketed by these two films about Kafka, we will show Class Relations (1984) by Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub, which focuses on the text of Kafka’s The Man Who Disappeared (aka America) as well as a 35mm print of Ottomar Domnick’s forgotten masterpiece Jonas (1957), a daringly experimental and truly Kafkaesque depiction of West German post war alienation and psychosis.  

When you come to the screenings you may want to pop to our library beforehand to catch the poster exhibition Komplett Kafka (until 9 December) based on Nicolas Mahler’s eponymous comic biography that presents Kafka’s life in an inimitably witty and pointed manner and in a style that is not dissimilar to author’s own minimalist drawing style. We also offer teaching material to accompany the exhibition. 

Our Kafka season ends with an event that looks at Kafka’s impact on literature, particularly on poetry. On Tuesday, 3 December, Poetry after Kafka will bring together poets Moniza Alvi, David Constantine and Gale Burns to present their own work, read an excerpt from Kafka and discuss his influence on writing and poetry.

And if this is still not enough Kafka for you, our Czech friends have more to offer. On Thursday, 21 November, acclaimed Czech novelist Magdalena Platzová will be at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London for the launch of her book Life After Kafka, a compelling novel about Felice Bauer, Franz Kafka’s first fiancée. Outside the Embassy you can see an exhibition of Czech illustrator and musician Jaromír 99’s illustrations for David Zane Mairowitz’s comics adaptation of The Castle  (1 November 2024 – 31 January 2025).
On Tuesday, 26 November, the event Inspired by Kafka: Insectum K. & Joseph Kilian at the Coronet Threatre in London invites you to a night of of cinematic masterpieces and a mesmerizing dance performance.