Original subtitles

Do you remember many years ago Father took me aside

and told me I was preoccupied with the insignificant

morbidly preoccupied, in his opinion.

Well, for years now, I've led a life that even he must call normal.

Except for the fact that in my odd, spare moments... I write.

It may be a disappointment to him, but I ask is it a crime?

Kafka?

The Keeper of the Files needs your summation of the Erlarger claim.

I gave it to him yesterday.

- You didn't give it to me. - I gave it to him.

In an organization as efficient as ours

When a document, once in a great while, gets lost it may never be found.

It seemed easier, as I was passing by.

But I'm the messenger!

An error like this damages my credibility.

Burgel, your credibility is unparalleled.

When I deliver a message, the act of delivering it, you might say has an official stamp.

I'll write that down.

Your position in this firm is not unassailable.

Good morning, Miss Rossman.

Or should I say, afternoon?

- Say what you like. Nobody listens. - Don't they?

You underestimate my station in this office and overrate yours.

Not now, Burgel.

It is I who gives advice here, not you.

By telling the Chief Clerk of your unpunctuality

it's not my position which is compromised, if that's what you're implying.

You're just doing your job.

It's what I'm paid to do.

Sweet?

You're pathetic.

And you're late.

Write that down in your little book.

I work in the section next to you.

I know.

I understand you're a friend of Eduard Raban.

Am i?

He mentioned that he knew you and

One of you must be mistaken.

I'm sorry, but I'm sure that I saw you together

There are people watching!

Don't make me embarrass you.

You have ink on your nose.

I'll expect your written resignation

immediately.

Ah! Away from your section without cause.

I knew it would happen one day.

Kafka?

Yes, sir.

Then it's Kafka.

Oh, yes.

I'm looking for Mr. Raban, from upstairs.

I can't hear you.

Mr. Raban Do you know where he is?

You didn't need to come out of bed. I could have taken the key.

Yes, I'm sure you could.

Should you be looking at that?

It's my house, isn't it?

- Well, yes, but - Out

He's not here, so out! Come on.

Have you seen Eduard Raban?

No.

Has anyone here seen Eduard?

Have you seen Eduard tonight? Eduard Raban?

Last week he told those jokes you loved

Oh? Doesn't sound like me.

Didn't he run away with those actors?

- You coming to the cabaret? - No, I have to work.

Don't you ever sleep?

Yes, that was him.

- Leaving? - I'm looking for Eduard. You seen him?

- Who? - Eduard

Wait here. We're just picking up Julius. You know Anna, don't you?

How long have you been here?

I just got here.

No, how long have you been here?

A few days. I went to your parents' house.

- You saw Father? - I didn't go to see him.

But I wrote you I'd moved out.

You wrote you wanted to moved out. Repeatedly and at great length.

I'm living in town now because of my work. You can save on postage.

Anyway, you know where to find me.

He's coming over.

I went to Eduard's apartment.

- Eduard's apartment. - He's not there.

He hasn't been seen there. I mean, not for a day or two.

Not by the landlady, in any case.

Thank you.

I'll try again then.

- How much have you told him? - He knows only a clerk nothing.

- Eduard said he's a writer. - That may be useful.

That may be dangerous.

It's not your bike, Frederic!

Kafka! Will we see you at the cabaret?

You won't get in now.

Another excuse to go, Homer

What are you working on?

I think about a man

who wakes up himself transformed

Oh! Drinking

The most thing is castle with majestic

Only, as distance

Oh! Have we met?

Bizzlebek is the name

- The gravedigger. - Stonecutter, really.

Sorry.

Sculptor, if I had any freedom in the matter.

But one should be called artist only if he's paid for it.

and perhaps not even then.

Yours is a noisy line of work.

Well, it's external noise.

Whereas you

the reverberations are inside.

I've read your stories. They're quite fantastic.

I can't imagine what you read.

Just what you've published.

In magazines nobody reads.

They should be filed in the Castle with all other useless paper.

Nonetheless, some of us are interested in your case.

That one story, for instance, about the penal colony.

The needles inscribing the judgment into the flesh of the condemned man.

It's new.

I need to find a clever device to make my work more noticeable.

I'm off to the cabaret. After a day at the Castle cemetery.

I have a strong urge to see figures in motion before going to bed.

Good night, Kafka.

Good night, Mr. Bizzlebek.

The terrible toil of the insurance office continues as ever.

I am continually harassed by petty tyrants.

as I issue pointless reports.

My friend Eduard has disappeared.

You never met him because I never dared bring a friend home.

Not with Father lording over us all from his armchair.

Now I gather Anna has paid you a visit.

My relations with her have been difficult, to say the least.

I can only hope Father didn't frighten her away any further.

Your son... Your loving son

Your occasionally loving son

Your incapable-of-loving son

Your absolutely-bored-to-death- with-any-sort-of-family-life son.

You know him?

Yes.

His name is Eduard Raban?

Yes.

Inspector Grubach.

Kafka.

Kafka, Kafka... Is that your real name?

Yes.

Why Shouldn't it be?

When was the last time you saw Mr. Raban?

Wednesday.

- At work? - Yes.

Did you go anywhere afterward? To have a drink, perhaps?

No, We said

good-bye outside the office,

and he went to his house.

- You work for workers. - Accident Insurance.

- Where you've been employed seven years. - Eight.

And seven months.

Would you describe your relationship with Raban?

as close?

No.

No?

Yes.

Yes, no, yes, no what?

I worked in the same office with him for three years.

He was found in the river. Could he swim?

Do you think?

You think he drowned himself?

Grown men don't normally fall into the river, do they?

No.

He may have had a few drinks, despite what you think.

Can I ask how you found me?

Of course. His landlady told us you'd been there

and that you took a great interest in looking through his things.

Well, uh, he was a very close f...

He didn't have any other fr... He had no family.

We know that.

Is that all?

No. We know other things, too. Kafka.

I don't usually get involved with people in the Old Quarter

but the river runs its own course.

I'd like you to know that in me you have, not a friend, of course

because we are strangers from incompatible social classes

but to some extent, shall we say an interested third party.

I'll bear that in mind.

Yes, Should you happen upon anything that might be relevant.

Yes.

Inspector GRUBACH

You asked to see me?

Sit down, Kafka.

You've been here for nearly 9 years.

You've done your work diligently. There are no complaints on that score.

But there's more to the job than the work.

There are other people to consider.

And frankly, Kafka...

We feel your social activities leave a lot to be desired.

My social activities?

You're a lone wolf.

You keep too much to yourself. It makes me uneasy.

and if it makes me uneasy, I can't imagine the impression you make

on lesser employees.

But in order to

finish my work, I have little time

You must make the time.

Have you never wondered

Why other clerks have advanced to higher positions, while you

who've been here longer, have not?

No, sir.

It doesn't matter how well you do your work.

You clearly view it as something to get through

not something to take an active interest in.

I know you were friendly with that poor fellow. What was his name?

Eduard Raban?

Yes, Raban.

But he was too like you. Even more like you perhaps

than you are yourself.

In any case, don't ask me why

word has come down you are to receive the promotion intended for him.

You will be given two assistants and a commensurate rise in salary.

That's all.

Thank you.

I understand you fancy yourself as a writer.

In a small way.

You should find a more athletic hobby.

Put some color in your cheeks.

My assistants, I presume.

I'm Kafka.

Ludwig.

Oscar.

You're brothers?

- Twins. - Actually.

- Have you worked here long? - Why?

- No. - Yes.

- Actually. - Long.

Well, let's start moving in.

Are you free for lunch?

Eduard. That's

That's a very difficult subject.

He wasn't capable of suicide.

He was obsessed by the idea of it.

I was surprised by the

Surprised by the timing, but I wasn't surprised by the act.

Perhaps he had two faces. One for you and one for me.

- He wasn't like that. - Are you sure?

I knew him very well.

Then you knew we were having an affair.

Oh, yes.

Eduard and I led very different lives outside the office.

We knew there might be consequences.

What sort of consequences?

Look what happened.

We don't know he wasn't robbed.

The police identified him by his wallet.

And you believe everything so is tell you?

When I have no reason to doubt.

They're authorities. That's reason enough. The police may have killed him.

Why would they do that?

Will you meet me tonight?

Tonight?

Where?

The Musil District.

Right.

Does that mean yes?

Oh, yes. Tonight.

Weren't you almost married recently?

Oh, yes. Uh...

Last year I was engaged, twice... to the same woman.

I'm not really...

I broke it off.

Eduard wanted to get married.

And you?

I'm suspicious of men who want to marry.

What time? Whereabouts in the Musil District?

Go to the Esplanade. Nine o'clock. you'll find your way from there.

Enjoy.

It's another bombing!

I think it's dangerous...

He might be able to help...

It's too risky...

Please sit down, Kafka.

I doubt Eduard told you about us and our... Activities.

Why bring me into it?

My question exactly.

Have you seen any of our literature?

I can't say I have.

Our present distribution is not effective.

The issue at hand is quality.

We thought you might be able to help us.

I wright by myself...

for myself.

You see?

This work can change the way things are.

It's not work I can do...

even if I were sympathetic to your... cause.

It's not work I can do for hire.

They may start proceedings against you.

What kind of proceedings?

- An investigation which is the trial. - And the sentencing.

Eduard found out what those are like.

The day he died, Eduard was called to the castle. Did you hnow that?

What of it?

He was summonded to correct...

a discrepancy in Medical Records.

And he was never seen alive again.

What does that prove? That he was murdered?

He was murdered!

A pass into the Castle was an opportunity we couldn't ignore.

He set off that evening, carrying one of our custom-made "briefcases"

With a message... for the Castle.

The Thought of Eduard delivering a bomb shocks you?

you needn't accept everything as true.

You need only accept it as necessary.

The bomb didn't go off, so he must have been caught and executed.

It has happened before.

Must have been? Did any of you...

Those file clerks at the Castle will deny everything.

No doubt he was handed over to the police, discreetly.

We've had no repercussions as yet.

Eduard must not have talked You're the one they contacted.

So that's who the enemy is policemen and file clerks.

Law and order, you might say.

You think what we're doing is wrong?

What would you suggest then?

Did any of you actually go up to the Castle with Eduard? Did you?

You sit around twisting the facts to suit your...

inbred theories.

In my experience, the truth is not that convenient.

See? He thinks only of himself.

It's why he came here tonight.

That's true.

It's also why I�m leaving.

I can't swim!

Hi!

How was your evening?

- Fine. - Terrible.

What happened?

- Whenever we go to a nightclub... - I want to go to another one.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You look very tired.

Miss Rossman came to see you.

Gabriela.

Do you know her?

Do you?

We saw her naked once.

All you think about is women!

She went to the roof to sunbathe once

And we watched her change.

- We worked in Supplies carrying boxes - Boxes of medicine

- We dropped them a lot. - He dropped them.

It's not too bad working here, though.

You've never felt it was a horrible double life from which there was probably no escape but insanity?

- Yes - No

I envy you

- You should be content, y'know - You should!

You are looking for Gabriela Rossman?

Yes

Please

Who's been open

Shall I reseal it?

There's not a lot of point.

I got your note Burgel gave it to me.

I didn't leave it with Burgel.

What are you doing?

Getting Eduard's things, so no one else does.

Things of value or things which connect you two?

Both.

I thought you might like to do the same. Yours?

Probably not worth keeping.

Some of those letters may be mine.

Dame it!

Are you all right?

Why were you fired?

They don't need reasons. To fire me, to kill Eduard.

They? Who is "they"?

They! the authorities, the police! The Castle, Burgel!

Burgel? I don't see Burgel as a "they"

He's more of an "it"

It's the small ones you have to look out for. The small men with small ideas.

Don't open that.

Why not?

Why not?

Opening and closing the latch activates it.

You said Eduard was murdered while he was carrying the bomb.

If this the bomb...

How many bombs are there?

- You still think it was suicide. - What?

Less trouble for the police. Less disturbing for you.

- I just want to know. - Then open it!

Don't think they're not watching.

To them, we're all connected. The group, Eduard, me, you.

Gabriela.

if I waited for you to understand, it'd be too late.

I looked in the street She wasn't there.

She disappeared between leaving the room and coming outside.

- Did you go to her house? - Did I what?

Did you go to her house?

No, I didn't go to her house.

I see.

Why would someone want to kidnap this woman?

Her name is, uh... Roseman?

Rossman.

Why?

You asked me to tell you if anything relevant came up.

Miss Rossman is relevant.

When we talked before, I didn't know she was... friendly with Mr. Raban.

She was friendly with many people.

She was friendly with you.

That has been noted. But where does it lead us?

Unless you have something more to add.

She's missing!

Isn't that enough for you?

Yes, that's enough.

She lost her job today.

I'd probably go away and brood a bit myself. Is that yours?

Yes.

maybe she was right in what she said.

What did she say?

That perhaps the police

have allegiance to something other than the truth.

She never believed Eduard's death was suicide.

And for the record, neither do i.

It doesn't rhyme.

You can't use it in that context. You must move through it.

Come sit with us.

No, I'm looking for some people.

Insect people.

You may be onto something.

What?

Meeting women. You've discovered a way in and out.

You enter dramatically, spilling over with concern for a lost friend.

That appeals to their caring nature.

If things go poorly, you leave, citing the need

to look elsewhere as your motive. It's perfect.

Yes, it would be perfect...

if that were my intent.

What other intent is there?

- Gabriela disapperared. - We know.

Why did you call the police?

- What did you tell them? - That I was concerned for her safety.

Be concerned for us.

- What about her? - Any of us might be next.

- You might be next. - Not me.

- We intend to stay together. - Very close.

- They find you alone and strike - Stay with us

- Listen. We found the bomb. - What?

In Eduard's apartment. Unopened.

Obviously unopened!

If it were opened, it wouldn't last very long, right?

- You gave it to the police. - No, it's in my apartment.

Where it does no one any good.

Or any harm.

Eduard, Gabriela, Kafka.

All from the same office.

It might be a cover-up.

Of incredible proportions.

It could be embezzlement.

It's always about money.

Clearly, there's no shortage of theories. What's needed are facts.

We need to know more about why Eduard was summoned to the Castle.

Excuse me.

I understand you have Eduard Raban's file.

I do.

Might I look at it for an address for his family?

I'd like to write to them.

No entry for family.

Was there something else?

No. It's just that I feel a sense of obligation.

He was a very dear friend If there's

some way that I could help in closing up his affairs.

There's but one report to complete. I will do that myself

and submit it to the Castle tomorrow.

I see.

There's just the Erlanger claim.

The Orlac chaim.

Well, thank you, sir.

You're too sensitive.

Yes, sir.

Let the poor fellow rest in peace.

If you wanted accounts, why did you ask for employees?

Orlac is an account?

It's a factory in the northern mountains. An excellent customer.

Without a proper request, I am not obliged to do this.

But I will make an exception on this one occasion.

At least the file is current, even if the employee isn't.

That place has so many accidents

it's a good thing the peasants there have no trouble with procreating.

All these in the last year?

Terrible accidents up there.

Cave-ins primarily. They can't even recover the bodies. Awful way to die.

yes.

That's bad enough, but even the district medical Officer was killed.

His picture is missing I must make a note of that.

- Was that Dr. Murnau? - Yes.

Dr. Murnau was a brave man A true visionary.

He spent his life in those backwaters, unconcerned for personal gain.

A great loss.

And this list is the clerks who worked on Orlac claims?

Yes. Is your friend's name there?

No.

Then he only worked on one case.

His name will appear when your Chief sends me the final summation.

When a file has been sent to the Castle

can it be recalled for review?

Of course not! only by a Director of the firm.

Who would want to let in riff-raff from the streets?

But why keep records if they can't be inspected?

We've had these laws for centuries. How can you doubt them?

Maybe I should apply to our Directors.

You do not summon them, They summon you.

And this hardly ever happens, if at all.

Where do the files go, when they go to the Castle?

We're a medical insurance firm. They go to the Medical Records Division.

Perhaps I should see the head of Medical Records.

It so happens, my dear simple sir...

The head of Medical Records at the Castle is one of the Directors of this firm.

Please!

- I'm trying to finish my work. - You've actually started some?

He's done nothing all day. He's afraid I'll show him up.

Assistants!

I may as well have two people who fell from the sky.

It's not our fault. We're nervous.

And upset.

What is it now?

- Everything I say, he disagrees with. - Everything.

We've been together so long

our personalities overflow into one another.

- And vice-versa. - It's horrible.

Imagine that happening to you.

Horrible.

Why don't you both take your lunch?

Go on!

The Chief Clerk wants this tomorrow.

He said it should only take you an extra hour... or two.

Come on! There's no one up there.

We're going now.

That's it. It's all right.

You've done very well.

Never mind them. They'll be attended to.

Watch your step.

Excellent job.

This won't go unrecognized.

And I'm sure you'll be well rewarded.

Almost there.

One final task. You'll like this gentleman.

Returning to your safe little burrow?

No matter how deep you dig

- you leave a trail - we can follow.

We're taking you to the Castle.

So it was you.

We thought it was Burgel.

He wouldn't be let near the Castle.

You should view this as a great favor.

- We answer to the highest authority. - Very high.

We deal with the person in charge.

Who is that?

- We don't know. - We're not allowed to say.

Shall we?

For all your incompetence, I thought you were loyal to me. You're good actors.

- Yes! - Thank you!

- When we get to the Castle don't make a fuss.

It would spoil the favorable impression

You dirty pig!

You've created otherwise.

Why did you bother pursuing this at all?

I thought it was pursuing me.

It's always about you, isn't it, Kafka?

Every time I see those two escorting someone

the next time I see that person is in my cemetary.

Isn't that a coincidence?

I'd like to go to the Castle, but I think it's best to go alone.

There are less conspicuous ways to enter the Castle.

Wouldn't you rather go through official channels?

They get me nowhere They go around in circles.

I'm flattered, of course, to be taken into your confidence

even without knowing all the details. Even though I'm sure they're very interesting.

To see such determination is reward enough for me.

Have you ever been inside the Castle?

No.

I was restoring some stones up here the other day when I found this.

Hold on.

An empty tomb?

The Castle gates were locked during the Great Plague. It's an escape route.

Don't get stuck.

Good luck

- You said you admired my work. - Yes.

Would you do me a favor?

Another one?

If I don't...

...see you later, would you go to my house, find my notebooks...

and destroy them? All my manuscripts...

none of them are finished. Just burn them, all right?

What an extraordinary request.

A true friend would do it.

Not necessarily!

A wife would!

Are you lost?

I'm looking for Medical Records.

That's the yellow floor.

Of course.

Have I seen you here before?

No

I'm new.

Grab him!

Get his papers.

I'm talking to you! His papers!

How many more of these tonight?

Three, I think.

We've been waiting.

Getting him here wasn't easy.

Help us get him prepared.

All a bit much, don't you think?

Uh, yes.

It's the noise that gets to me.

And the smell.

Yes. Quite.

You don't belong here, do you?

Actually, no. I was on my way to the Medical Records Division.

I was just going that way myself.

You pig! Let me go!

Now, Miss Rossman, I want to chat with you.

Miss Rossman?

Do something.

How do you feel, Miss Rossman?

- I know you. - Better.

When it all comes down you'll be the first to die.

And you.

We aren't making much progress today.

You'll hang by the guts of the police.

- You're incompetent. - Let me try this.

- What are you doing? - Something's wrong.

What were they doing there?

Just between you and me... I'm supervisor. On salary like anyone else.

They're trying to come up with, shall I say

a more efficient person.

I don't follow.

What makes someone more prone to anger or happiness or certain colors?

The chemical balance can be altered.

But in what ways? In what measure? It's an impure science.

I've seen some of their impurities.

Haven't we all? They do what they're told.

That makes them "efficient"?

First physiology, then ideology.

Are you sure this is the right way?

I must see the head of Medical Records.

- He did summon you then? - Yes.

Interesting. There was another clerk from the claims office... a bit like you...

summoned but never arrived.

No? Why not?

They killed him, actually.

Why?

From what I heard, it was bookkeeping.

Bookkeeping?

You see, he was accidentally sent the wrong piece of paper

Piece of paper?

How could that matter?

It authorized compensation for a death that hadn't yet occurred.

Orlac.

Yes, Kafka.

Workers have wives and children.

Unfortunately, it's the only way to ensure future workers.

We find it best

when an insurance company like yours gives them a small cash payment

when they lose their husbands.

People want industry, progress. we give it to them.

That's body-snatching, not progress.

I think they called it the "resurrection" business.

I even resurrected myself, didn't I?

Dr. Murnau.

The heroic martyr of Orlac.

We had to move on from there, find subjects elsewhere.

People who are less likely to object.

Like Gabriela Rossman?

Or people who are already guilty of something.

Why do you involve yourself with anarchists?

I would have preferred to see one of your manuscripts.

I mean it.

Your work has been an inspiration to me, what I've seen of it.

Why don't you publish more often.

Is it a certain laziness with regard to composition?

Or are you just one of those writers with, how shall I say

No use for an audience?

Thank you.

You despise someone like me

because you despise the modern. But...

you're at the forefront of what is modern. You write about it. Document it.

Unlike you, though I have chosen to embrace it.

That's our biggest headache.

Understanding the human mind.

You must admit we have that in common.

You and I have nothing in common.

I've tried to write nightmares, and you've...

...built one.

You have your tools, I have mine.

But we are men of vision, you and I.

That's what sets us apart from the great faceless mass.

Faceless? There's a face!

What will you say when the great faceless mass comes calling...

...on its own initiative?

What will you say to them?

A crowd is easier to control than an individual.

A crowd has a common purpose.

The purpose of the individual is always in question.

That's what you're trying to eliminate.

That which makes one human being different from another.

But you'll never...

...never reach a man's soul...

...through a lens.

That depends on which end of the microscope you're on.

Stop him! Stop him!

Boys!

Get my feet, quickly!

Get my feet! Get my feet!

My feet!

You idiots!

Get up and stop this!

Where were you?

- Behind you. Did you get him? - No, but I will.

He's gone.

You had told us Miss Rossman had disappeared.

- Well, she has been found. - Yes.

We are recommending

for the report a verdict of suicide.

What would be your opinion?

Suicide.

I'd have to agree.

She was perhaps despondent over the loss of her beloved Mr. Raban.

That...

...would account for it.

You are

You're very helpful, Kafka.

You're early, for once. The Chief Clerk wants to see you in his office.

You wanted to see me?

You should know, I received two communications.

The first summoning you to the Castle

the second countermanding the first.

Did they say why, sir?

My superiors have no obligation to explain their directives to me.

And certainly not to you.

I see, sir. I just thought

today might be different.

Why should today be different?

Dearest Father.

I had always believed that it is better to know the truth

than to live in ignorance.

Now I shall find out if I was right.

I can no longer deny that I am part of the world around me.

Nor can I deny despite our differences

that I remain your son.

And so I hope only that these late

perhaps insignificant

realizations

might reassure us both a little

and make our living

and our dying

easier