Original subtitles

Subtitle: Norddeutscher Rundfunk 2024

♪ Hectic orchestral music ♪

*creaking*

The Jewish one Prague insurance officials,

Factory owner and writer Dr. Franz Kafka:

He lived 40 years and eleven months.

He died of laryngeal tuberculosis in a sanatorium near Vienna.

He was in Berlin, Munich, Zurich, Paris,

Milan, Venice, Verona, Vienna and Budapest.

He saw the sea three times in total.

North Sea, Baltic Sea, Italian Adriatic.

Dr. Franz Kafka remained unmarried.

With probably six women did he have love affairs,

most short.

He also had intimate contacts

to an unknown number of prostitutes.

His literary work includes 350 pages of completed texts,

plus ten times as many fragments, letters, diaries.

The testamentary instructions according to

which he at his friend Max Brod.

Finally he asked Max Brod:

(hoarse) You have to destroy everything.

Nothing can remain.

* Cough *

You actually have carried out his will?

No no. You have to start differently.

* rumbling and clinking *

Max, this has to go into the second one Suitcase. We don't have anyone else.

It's full. You know what's inside.

Yes, but... our things! The train doesn't wait.

♪ Hectic music ♪

1939: Dr. Franz Kafka has been dead for 15 years.

Forgiveness! Excuse me!

This is the last move from Prague to Poland.

Places 33 and 35.

Max, wait.

Max! Yes.

These are our places. Release them.

You don't have to be upset, Mr Brod. You know me?

I have read your Tycho Brahes. What will happen?

Nothing as long as there are negotiations. President Hacha is with Hitler.

Your word in God's ear!

* Locomotive signal *

Half a lifetime ago.

The well-known writer

does with his unknown friend a trip to Italy.

Let's write a novel together write about our trip?

I'm not quite sure.

You'll never become a writer that way. I'm writing.

Write more. Then it will not good. It'll be good enough.

Good enough.

* Laugh *

♪ Playful music ♪

Good enough.

* Rumsen * What happened? Nothing, Elsa.

They say the Germans entered Olomouc.

You are meschugge! - You'll see!

Why are you spreading such rumors? You... Ganeff!

Max, have you heard?

Hacha is with Hitler. Nothing happens for the next few days.

He doesn't march during the negotiation.

But Max, what Hitler... Elsa, I know what I'm talking about.

♪ Tense music ♪

15.

16.

17.

I could not falling asleep tonight.

The strange room doesn't do me any good.

You snored. I tried to wake you up.

I sleep deeply. Enviable! Every breath of wind wakes me up.

Because I couldn't sleep well

and you at night works best...

Me in the afternoon. No, it has to be at night.

And even the night is not night enough. Anyway ...

Yes?

Because I couldn't sleep,

I'm working on our novel written. Franz!

Great! No, very bad.

It didn't go well? Unfortunately, not at all!

*gasp*

Do you have to do this every morning? I did this every morning.

Yes. But do you have to?

The Müller brochure says: "If you don't mill, you'll get sick."

Who mills, but also.

Yes, that's right. Who mills, gets sick too. * Laugh *

Maybe we should have tour guides write instead of the novel.

We write both. At the same time? Clear!

The more you write, the better it gets.

I'm worried, that Wibke is pregnant. How come?

You were relieved that she can't have children.

That's the other one. Lucia? No no.

That Luzia becomes pregnant don't you worry?

But! That would be the worst possible thing!

Maybe you should maintain less contact.

I'm in love with everyone, into each of them.

I don't understand how you so rarely need a woman.

And if you have one, you go around with her

and everyone sees you and it doesn't matter to you.

You talk to her like... as if that wasn't embarrassing.

Yes, why not, Max? I'm talking to you too.

Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have to chew for so long?

According to Horace Fletcher you should bite 40 times.

This is how the main part finds digestion...

I know that, but it is true tiring to watch you do.

* Laugh *

Now you sound like my father.

*Heavy exhalation*

♪ Slow instrumental music ♪

* Loud chewing *

*Heavy exhalation*

I can't see it, how the boy eats!

Calm down, Hermann! Franz eats like that.

What if he likes it better that way?

I can't watch it. Like a rabbit!

I can't stand it.

Don't serve so slowly! The food is getting cold.

(speak Czech)

(cries) Of course I mean it that way!

*bird calls*

Have you seen the man? He had a gold tooth. Yes and?

Nothing. I thought, a gold tooth is useful

when describing a person.

Also with other things Ambiguity of impression.

You write "gold tooth" and he's already there.

In every single window

the recurring color prevails of a dress.

♪ Dreamy Music ♪

Signori! Signori!

A dress? Ochermarine, for example.

On these streets your legs come apart.

Why the legs?

We must write in the travel guide:

Avoid wear and tear on shoes.

Otherwise you have expenses.

(Man speaks in Italian with the dog) * barking *

Ciao, bello!

You can feel sorry for a dog like that.

Why?

Nobody pays attention to him and...

♪ Tense string music ♪

Grace!

Yes? We have to find a way from our offices.

I'm out of insurance and you from the post office.

The path goes over a rope. Then we are tightrope walkers.

No, the rope is just above the ground

and should only cause you to stumble.

If people listen to you, one thinks there is no hope.

But there are endless hope, but...

But? Not for us.

*sigh* He is difficult to understand.

He demands a lot. And he gives almost nothing.

Sometimes is a writer Max Brod exhausted.

Sometimes he feels like he has to give up his friend.

Nonsense!

You can admit that, Max. Sometimes you are close to it.

I'm not on a first-name basis with you and ...

*rumbling*

Ostrava!

* Rumsen *

* Excited background conversations *

Get off! To the left, Then right. March off! Come on!

♪ Uncomfortable music ♪

Max! Do you hear me? Max?

Max! Max!

* Rumsen *

Passports!

I told you. I told you so!

♪ Depressing music ♪

Passports!

(second inspector) The passports!

Did the Germans invade?

Well, what do you think?

Now things will to become different.

For us German-Czechs great days begin.

♪ Depressing music ♪

(in the background) The passport, sir!

The train is still allowed to run? It will show.

Do you have something to declare?

Open the suitcase.

♪ Tense music ♪

*Deep inhalation and exhalation*

*Click*

What is that?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Handwriting from a friend.

He left it to me. He leaves you his doodles?

Is that worth anything? For me, yes.

I mean, is it worth money?

I should burn everything. That's how much it's worth. Max!

And instead, take it with you.

They leave the country with a suitcase full of doodles.

What can I say, Inspector? He was my best friend.

"Already I jumped, as if it wasn't the first time,

on the shoulder of an acquaintance."

"... and brought him, as I mean fists thrust into his back,

into a light trot.

As he reluctantly stomped and sometimes stopped,

I hooked my boot into his stomach to cheer him up.

It worked and we got there quickly ever further into the interior

a large but unfinished one area where it was evening."

Unfinished area? Yes.

Are you sure? Yes.

Such nonsense!

"Unfinished area."

Did he have something on his head? Your best friend?

I do not get it ...

But it is good.

What do you think, Max?

I believe ...

What, Max? What do you think?

I think I have never heard of anything better.

*laughter*

You're right.

That's really nothing.

I said yes.

♪ Slow instrumental music ♪

So? Shall we continue?

They were allowed to cross this border exceed.

The transition was just for you.

Now that you've passed him, it will be closed.

I'm sorry, what?

♪ Depressing music ♪

I said you're lucky. This is the last move.

The last? The border is now closed.

♪ Tense instrumental music ♪

*Click*

Müller? Reimann? We have to take someone away.

You take him with you! What's happening to him?

♪ Depressing instrumental music ♪

By negating the will

we can suffer the same recognize in all.

They had gotten to know each other on October 23, 1902.

If we had to choose a day, where the literature is located

of the 20th century changed forever, he would be this:

The day Franz Kafka met the man

who is his work would save from destruction.

On October 23, 1904 Kafka was not yet a doctor

and not yet a writer.

His fellow student Max, a year younger,

had a lecture held about Schopenhauer.

Schopenhauer says the will is the basic fact of the world

and the principle of individuation.

No, we have to start differently.

You have to explain that.

The thing with Max with his curvature of the spine,

you have to start with that.

So that he actually comes to life as a hunchback was condemned,

to a special existence as a disabled person, as a cripple.

Excuse me, that's what they called it.

His mother wouldn't allow it.

Max, come on! Just look!

He was enveloped in parental love

like a prince in his purple cloak.

Slow down, Max!

And a little more feeling.

♪ Piano Play ♪

He got piano lessons. He was gifted.

That's why he was later writer and philosopher,

virtuoso and music theorist, among many others.

He was passionate, warm-hearted, always ready for enthusiasm,

not very profound.

And overall, let's be honest, we have to be honest here,

well... his ambition was slightly greater than his talent.

But he was ambitious!

♪ Playful orchestral music ♪

* Beat *

*door squeak*

Dr. Schnitzler? Yes, please? The great poet.

Allegedly. My brother is not here.

Bread. Forgive the interruption, but this is my novel fragment.

What? If you could read it, it would be my greatest honor, sir...

who was that?

♪ Playful orchestral music ♪

And when Max started studying, he joined a debating club.

He stopped there immediately,

that is, on October 23, 1902, his first lecture.

So that date

that is the history of literature changed forever.

Nietzsche's criticism of Schopenhauer

is based on vanity and competitive thinking.

Nietzsche is a fraud!

Please ask later!

You don't want to claim that Nietzsche's criticism

to Schopenhauer comes from base motives?

Without philosophical considerations?

Exactly that - and prove it I will do it to you too.

If only there is the will, why does it unfold into the world?

Why is he? not just the will?

Because the will, according to Schopenhauer, must recognize oneself.

He is blind. Not so blind as to not want to.

In this night the two go back and forth.

Max accompanies Franz to his apartment,

then Franz Max to his, then Franz Max again to his.

In this night neither of them sleep.

Since, whether you like it or not,

There is no bread without Kafka and no Kafka without bread.

What posterity later should call the Prague Circle,

was nothing else as Max's three best friends:

The insurance clerk Kafka, the blind piano teacher Baum,

the editor Weltsch.

I see nothing.

But! There.

No, posterity called them not the Prague Circle.

Do you know who called you that? As the only one?

In his book "The Prague Circle"?

That was me. The Prague Circle. That was us. Where is the problem?

So this is where the Prague Circle is

and commits the turn of the year 1910/1911.

The world: stable.

War is a thing of the past.

Progress is inevitable

and Halley's Comet emblazoned in the sky.

There is nothing. Maybe it is Better if he doesn't show up.

He could probably roam the earth. 1911 is an ominous date.

Every date is ominous.

Tree? Do you see something?

Nothing. Tree doesn't see anything either.

Of course the tree doesn't see anything.

What do you mean by that? * Laugh *

What I mean by that? The tree is blind.

That's not nice.

Sometimes you want more Wishing you heart education, Max.

He knows he is blind. I don't call him ugly.

Have you heard that? * Laugh *

Brod, what has the tree done to you?

Now he has me also called ugly.

Still nothing.

We're here specifically for this Comets. I was sweating.

Why did you come with me? Because the comet is coming.

But he's not coming.

I'm writing an article.

A bad review about the comet.

I will say everything. You will be amazed! Who?

Soon people will say: "The Jews were to blame."

Let's go?

Yes, he's not coming anymore today.

The Prague Circle is looking for comets

and does too regular trips to the brothel.

For the benefit!

This is now... but I'll say it: Brothels were commonplace.

Almost all the young men went

and many poor young women had to work there.

You would have to do something more original can say as "for the good".

I'm not a poet.

I'm the only one here who is not a poet

and can say whatever he wants.

Every phrase, every worn-out one Thought is my friend.

Thanks, Mitzi. * kissing sound *

But the real poet here, Does he have nothing to say?

I think she means you, Werfel. I always have something to say.

You have to have something from the poets have. We want to hear something.

Good.

*clearing throat*

* Applause and individual cheers *

The friends, who talk to me,

very often grumpy...

*laughter*

...light up with pleasure.

They walk with pleasure in my beautiful features,

probably arm in arm.

Refined shape.

Oh, my face can never hold dignity.

And seriousness and equanimity doesn't want to satisfy him.

Because 1000 smiles again

forever unfold his image of heaven.

(crowd) Uuuuuh!

I am a corso in sunny places,

a summer festival with women and bazaars.

My eye breaks from being too enlightened.

I want me sit down on the lawn

and with the earth drive into the evening.

Oh, earth!

Evening!

Happiness!

Oh!

Be in the world!

*Initially timid applause*

*cheers*

Very nice, especially the sunny places

and that "being enlightened" and "to be in the world" rhyme.

It was good, wasn't it? I've been looking for this for a long time.

That was wonderful!

Let's leave the poems.

There are times for words, there are times for silence.

I go to the brothel every day past like a lover's house.

You also say nice things, but they don't rhyme.

Rhyme.

He is the shore where they land.

Two thoughts agree.

*Giggle* That's nice too. And it rhymes.

Wouldn't it rhyme it would be wrong.

Is it from you? Unfortunately not. Then it wouldn't rhyme.

When I put sentences together, the rhyme disappears

and hides away at an angle.

Then... let's go look for him, Mr. Franz.

♪ Auspicious Instrumental music ♪

What's great is the girls not get pregnant. Really?

If they are, isn't that my problem,

while the Wibke me again gave a fright.

Ten days she wasn't sure.

That's what holds up the nerves are not enough.

How were you with Mitzi? You didn't say anything.

Look, the Lord is killing himself.

♪ Tense music ♪

*Cluck*

No really.

Now get him out. Why are you getting him?

You can leave him alone, if he wants to kill himself.

Franz, help me!

* Excited shouts *

Let me pass. One must ventilate him. He has to be ventilated.

*bird calls*

You didn't try to help. You didn't try to look.

His features as he faced the extreme,

jumped towards...

You have to help him. You have to look at his face.

That's not human. We're writers, Max.

And? Our eyes are more important than our hands.

At the crucial moment what matters is that we see.

See everything: inside, outside, day, night.

I work differently. You know that.

You need that.

The darkness, the stepping back, the cold look.

But they are my novels not good enough,

even without me keep your distance from everything?

Yes, good enough. They already are.

Look on your shelf. There are twelve books of mine there.

Twelve! He upset us both, the suicide.

Don't say I have this created with half strength.

Twelve books? Of course not, Max. I exaggerated.

You know I like to exaggerate.

Twelve!

♪ Playful-sad music ♪

*Tap*

* Plingen *

* Plingen *

Are you of all good spirits leave? Good morning

"As a sign of high culture of German literature

some decorate the times of Existence with art and cruelty.

Heinrich Mann, Wedekind, Mehring, Franz Kafka

and others include to the holy group." Max!

What? I don't have a line yet published. And?

"Mann, Wedekind, Mehring, Kafka"? Why are you writing this?

It's true. People will read this. I hope so.

You will ask: "Who is Kafka?" Shall they.

Then they want a book from me. Can happen.

Then the bookseller tells them, there is none.

You have to remedy that.

♪ Uncomfortable music ♪

His constant enthusiasm was unbearable,

but she was also irresistible.

Mr. Brod, we are pleased that your novel will be published by us.

A novel is not enough Mr Rowohlt. I have more.

More? They have wrote a second novel?

Exactly what we need. - Listen to!

I have written many novels, but also have...

This is from my friend Felix Weltsch.

A philosophical work, but of extraordinary power.

This is from Otto Stössel, a promising writer.

This is also from him.

This is from Werfel, you already know that one.

We call him the heavenly high school students.

For an unknown author come with a lot of luggage.

I come with treasures. This is from Oskar Baum, a friend of mine.

He is blind and beyond he also writes. Actually?

He writes about being blind! - Exciting! - Listen to!

What the world is like for him who never sees her,

how to move in it - overwhelming!

You have to get this out.

We have to check this first but that's interesting.

*Loud background conversations*

Then there is...

(whispering) Kafka.

What is the name of the? Hafa?

Kafka. Kafka.

Franz Kafka. He is maybe the greatest writer in the world.

Ah, you won't do it below that.

What did you bring with you? from the greatest writer in the world?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Nothing. There is nothing yet.

But you said... Are you not feeling well?

I said if he will have written something.

When he finishes something,

it will be an adornment of your publishing house his, Mr. Rowohlt, Mr. Wolff.

This will be the people never stop reading, promise!

Yes, that sounded ridiculous silly and over-the-top.

But wasn't he right?

Now who is this great Hafa? - Who is this wondrous person?

Does he still go to school?

He works for the state Insurance company.

Exciting!

Well, our curiosity is piqued.

You can do that, dear Brod, Arouse curiosity.

Speak for yourself.

I can tame my curiosity.

I know that you can do this, Mr Rowohlt.

Not as good as you spend money.

He doesn't like traveling and that Insurance gives him little vacation,

but I will him lure to Leipzig.

In the meantime, however, you must the thrower and the tree and...

*Embarrassed snort*

I... I forgot: Here is someone else. A certain Haas.

He writes amazing things!

He was like a literary agent, but he didn't get any shares.

♪ Playful-sad music ♪

Dear Dr. Bread.

We are very pleased, that you on the occasion of your visit

in the Marbach literary archive talk to us.

I am also pleased.

You are, Dr. bread, himself a well-known author.

Even more famous, of course,

but as a friend by the world-famous Franz Kafka.

Dear Doctor Brod, let me first ask,

isn't that often a disadvantage? is when you write about Kafka?

If you analyze his work, when you think about him,

whether you don't often wish you wouldn't have been his friend at all?

Because that gives you a more objective view would allow a view.

Whether I... I don't think so it would ever have been beneficial

not Kafka's friend to have been.

Hmmm.

You are accused of being in his diaries to have intervened.

If someone has been offended, I deleted that.

They have in Kafka's diaries painted?

Just things that don't concern anyone. You just decided that?

Do you know, sir...

For you this is a book but for us it was our life.

If someone said something...

Or if he...

For example, about a work judges in words that...

That's what the public does little on.

For example, you think when he comments on your works?

We were each other

in extraordinary appreciation tied together.

It should be there Give passages in the diaries.

Show me those.

I can not do that.

That's what it's all about.

If I have painted something, then only with good reason.

Like the Pachinger, for example.

A notorious collector of, You see it, a Prague original,

Max and Franz paid a visit.

Anyway, I'm glad you did Honor me today, gentlemen.

art-savvy people I always like to show something.

And the evening progressed.

The pregnant woman's body is preferable to all other women.

What they do not say! I have experience.

Best to fuck, do you think?

Better than everyone else. Tell us more, Mr. Pachinger.

These are mine.

Not the pictures. I mean the women.

I've had them all. All?

Thousands!

Look.

Carnival in Munich.

They come there every year over 6000 women to Munich.

Without accompaniment, just for yourself... ... to have coitus?

Accurate, Doctor Kafka. Accurate!

* Laugh *

*Continued laughter*

Well, if you have another one and another one has...

You can see her in front of you, if you tell it like that.

One imagines

like your big member slowly stuffing into women.

Do you want any more pictures? Absolutely! I'll delete that!

Of course, from an evening like this no one is allowed to know.

I have according to the circumstances did the right thing.

As editor, executor,

Executor of his will.

But you actually have carried out his will?

(husky) Any notebook.

And every story especially the novel manuscripts.

*Sluggish swallowing*

You have to destroy everything.

Nothing can remain.

* Cough *

I never promised him.

He knew, how I felt about his work.

The fact that he asked me means that he did not want the destruction.

He knew what I would do. Also the diaries?

They would have be able to publish his work,

but the most personal...

The most intimate.

Did he really secretly want that the public sees them?

An author this meaning...

Every word he says is...

Every word. But this is not the question, Mr. Brod.

The public wants...

...but she can too.

He trusted you.

You accuse me to have sentences deleted

simultaneously, not to have burned everything?

If someone today mentions the name Max Brod...

Let's be honest!

Then it always is related to Kafka.

your own novels, Her many writings.

We are not in competition.

My writings are read. But they are not available.

I am with my work as a writer

also clean as with their resonance.

What do you want from me?

I did not expected such a survey.

You mean the kind of questioning where someone asks questions?

♪ Sad instrumental music ♪

What are you doing here, Franz?

I wanted to visit you.

You used to do that a lot. You look sad.

I write book after book,

exchange letters with Einstein, Thomas Mann and Freud.

I will be in Berlin and Vienna discussed.

And I think with the next book I come from the post office.

Then I'll come out from this office.

I think, It has to be that far then.

I write, another book comes out

and again nothing happens.

I may never come from the post office?

You're coming out, Max. Are you sure, Franz?

I'm not so sure anymore.

Why isn't it happening?

"Because I write things, that are good enough?"

Some things are not good enough. What?

You come out of the post office, promised!

How can you be sure?

We all come to an end out of the post office.

♪ Depressing music ♪

Where are you going?

Out of the mail.

I have his work brought into exile.

After that they have the limit closed. One day longer...

But you have the work not just taken abroad.

They released it too.

You edited it, You commented on it.

You showed the world what you think Kafka was like.

They made him a saint, to the prophet, to the interpreter of truth.

He was all that... and more.

And contradiction you didn't tolerate it.

But you never explained what entitles you to all this.

Forgive me, Doctor Brod,

but I quote the opinions of others.

“One self not a first-class writer,

without literary studies Education.

One... not at all... qualified person."

Why do we get the great Franz Kafka never without you?

Why were you always there always in the picture?

Why is there? no Kafka without bread?

The third class carriages stand at the back.

You have to get in at the front. Why?

If the passage door is blocked,

traveled first class for the price a third party ticket.

We have to travel cheaply really do it.

Then we earn too much money for that.

Attenzione, prego! Treno via Praga via Trieste parte tra due minutes!

I'll be back in the office tomorrow, you're on treatment for another two weeks.

Yes, but it is a nude sanatorium. Naked?

Not like that! A desolate one medical matter.

I'm not exactly looking forward to it. Would you rather be in the office?

Then it's better to be naked.

I repeat the question, Mr. Brod.

What qualifies you?

What gives you of all people the right,

about his work, about him to make apodictic statements?

He was ...

He was my best friend.

♪ Playful orchestral music ♪

♪ Playful orchestral music ♪

Copyright subtitles: NDR 2024