Original subtitles

Subtitle: Norddeutscher Rundfunk 2024

♪ Expectant orchestral music ♪

Actually you have to start somewhere else.

Is he still coming?

He's always late.

One hour. I'm worried.

Who are you expecting?

Max's meschuggen friend.

*Quiet laughter* We don't expect him.

All we know is that he will appear,

because he always shows up.

Yes. At home he doesn't like it that much.

The young lady is Felice Bauer from Berlin, former typist,

but she rose.

She is with her relatives in Prague,

the family by the writer Max Brod.

She's not a woman of the world, but...

Excuse me, that didn't sound...

I mean, she is a down-to-earth, a practical one

and intelligent woman, independent.

This is still rare.

Maybe salvation for an erring soul.

Did something happen to him? You are not responsible for him.

Actually, I am. And now, where he publishes a book...

He doesn't have your talent, Max.

Friendship or not.

A strange person.

You have to imagine, Felice:

I'm fast asleep. He comes in. I wake up. And what does he say?

"Consider me a dream." And goes out again.

Who knows, Max?

Someone who thinks of something like that will maybe as famous as you.

*creaking*

I apologize!

I kept everyone waiting everyone disappointed.

Nonsense! Yes, I always disappoint everyone.

Franz Kafka. Felice Bauer.

Cousin of my Berlin brother-in-law. Berlin brother-in-law?

Anyone who is self-respecting today has a brother-in-law from Berlin.

*Cluck*

Would anyone like something to eat? I've given up the habit. What?

Nothing is worse than people, who are constantly eating. Like zoo animals.

That is the book? This will be the book.

Hopefully never. Yes, Franz, There is no way back.

There has never been a turning back.

We want the prose pieces choose for the book.

The contract I closed it for him.

You convinced us. - You did.

So, you convinced him. - That's enough.

I am the literary expertise.

The expertise is Wolff, I the merchant.

A publisher needs both.

Yes, a money monkey

and a man of talent and art appreciation.

Well said, dear Rowohlt.

Send us something, dear Kafka.

We need to fill our new row. You are lucky.

We don't even read it beforehand. - He does not.

I admit it others act artfully. - Who?

We'll send his reflection soon. Consideration?

I know, we need a better title.

I'm more grateful for the return of my manuscripts

than for their publication.

♪ Swing Music ♪

What is the name of your book?

Consideration.

We're looking for one Looking for another title, but...

A... good title. Not that, but appropriate.

That's the worst name for an unfortunately bad book.

Oh, come on, Franz! Don't play the humble guy.

I do not play. Unfortunately it's really bad.

This has to come out. That's exactly what has to be definitely get in. This has to come out!

The book is too thin anyway. Everything comes in. Not that one!

We're done choosing. Everything here goes in.

That's a catastrophe.

I can't imagine the feeling imagine being a book author.

It's terrible! A book with Such a beautiful name too.

(speaks Hebrew)

Do you speak Hebrew? I am a Zionist.

Me too, I think.

Of course he is a Zionist. He is sensible.

(speaks Hebrew)

The most beautiful language speak firmly.

Zionism is my big one Became a task, my mission.

I'll travel there at some point.

Away from the darkness, the cobblestones, the people,

who consider it an impertinence, that there are Jews.

Away from the pigeons.

The pigeons?

Don't you want a country without pigeon dirt, Max?

Let's climb it together Spring hills, madam?

I mean Tel Aviv.

That means translated "The Hill of Spring".

I don't speak Hebrew, but you know what I mean.

Do you speak it now or not? I hardly speak any German.

I hang between languages, which I can't.

Like a fly between the road and some shoe. Yes.

Then let's do it.

If you're serious, then we go to Tel Aviv.

I dont have anything yet so serious. Me neither.

♪ Soaring instrumental music ♪

♪ Short, hard string tones ♪

Dear Miss:

In the possible event that you don't remember me anymore,

I introduce myself again.

My name is Franz Kafka and am the human being

who you for the first time in the evening welcomed by Director Brod in Prague.

Sister. Hello.

You're late, Feluschka. How was the trip? Very very nice.

Here is a letter for you.

How did I get to your address?

At first I got any called a stock corporation.

Then I got your address without a number, then add the number.

Now I was satisfied and certainly didn't write.

I was afraid the address would be wrong.

Nothing is sadder

as a letter to send to an unsafe address.

That's a sigh.

Apart from that from these address worries,

what did my letter of lament have to suffer, before it was written?

What kind of moods hold me?

A rain of nervousness goes down continuously down on me.

What I want now I don't want to next time.

I have to pile up insecurity,

before they get a little security or become a letter.

Tell me something about Prague.

Hmm... Charles Bridge is big.

The stones are... old.

*Giggle* And over the city is this huge castle.

And the alleys in the old town...

Unfortunately I can't do anything put together beforehand,

later in a river write down.

My memory is bad.

But even the best memory I couldn't write

even a small one, before just a memorized section will help.

And the Brods? How are they?

Max plays the piano very well.

I saw a book by him. Did you buy it?

That would be even nicer! He should send it.

Then would you read it?

I don't like reading that much.

If he sends it, you won't read it,

but if he doesn't send it, Don't you even do that?

Leave me alone with your jokes!

Once I remember I even got up from bed

about what I have for you thought about writing it down.

But I got up again back to bed because I,

this is a second of my sufferings, who blamed my restlessness for folly.

And claimed I could do it, what exactly I have in mind

also write it down in the morning.

Towards midnight such claims always come through.

♪ Sad instrumental sounds ♪

♪ Dynamic instrumental music ♪

I have to admit one thing, as bad as it sounds

and so bad it matches the previous:

I am an unpunctual letter writer.

Morning.

But I never expect that letters come on time.

Coffee! Thanks mother, no time.

Even if I have a letter eagerly await

I'm never disappointed, if he doesn't come.

And finally he comes, I like to scare.

Now includes my life thinking of you.

Not a quarter of an hour goes by where I don't think about you

and many quarter hours, in which I do nothing else.

♪ Dynamic instrumental music ♪

They are very nice letters.

Letter to the Kronecker company, paragraph, today's date, paragraph.

Ladies and Gentlemen I ask you,

contact us regarding the delivery of 200...

And it went on like this, day after day, Week after week, month after month.

When she finished a letter, came the next one.

It didn't stop anymore.

♪ Oppressive music ♪

(drawn out) George.

(Emphatic) George.

George.

I have news, father.

I have ... myself engaged to a young lady.

A girl from a wealthy family.

♪ Tense music ♪

He had with his bride about the father's future

not spoken yet.

They had assumed

the father would be alone stay in the old apartment.

But now he decided

the father in his to take with you to your future household.

♪ Slow string melody ♪

♪ Slow string melody sounds from ♪

♪ Oppressive instrumental music ♪

♪ Melancholic instrumental music ♪

Am I well covered now?

Just be quiet, father. You're well covered. * Scream *

"No," cried the father, that the answer met the question.

He threw back the blanket, that it unfolded

and stood in bed.

You wanted to cover me up I know that, my little one,

but I'm not covered yet.

And is that also the last strength, enough for you, too much for you?

But the father has to fortunately no one teaches

to see through the son.

As you believed now, you would have defeated him!

so defeated, that you with your ass

you can bet on him and he doesn't move.

♪ Menacing instrumental music ♪

There he is, my lord son, decided to get married,

because she lifted her skirts.

Because she lifted her skirts like that, the disgusting goose.

Because she wears skirts like this... and like that...

... and raised it like that, did you approach her?

And so that you can access it without any disturbance you can satisfy yourself, you have

put your father to bed, so he can't move!

But I'll sweep it for you away from the side!

(loud and angry) You don't know how!

(calmly) You ambushed me.

I condemn you to death by drowning.

George felt chased away.

The blow that the father gave fell, stayed in his ears.

*rolling thunder*

♪ Threatening music ♪

Dear Parents, I have always loved you.

At this moment went over the bridge

an almost endless traffic.

In one night. That's the only way you can write. Only this way!

What can I say? It was because of her.

Felice? She started everything.

Maybe writing and Opposites don't marry.

In one night I wrote that.

If I hadn't met her... You wouldn't have.

Why not?

Weren't you listening, Brod? That's what the story is about.

And then: letters for weeks, for months, half a year.

Letters! A love in letters, an engagement in letters.

When a man and a woman meet each other write so many letters in 1913,

aren't they pen pals, then they are engaged.

A human, to whom you are engaged,

even though you have him only seen it once?

You already know?

I would like nuts, Goat cheese and a glass of water.

We have cheese, but not goat. Water works. Then no cheese.

And you, miss? I only drink tea.

You know, that we offer food here?

I do not like to eat.

So, a plate of nuts for him Glutton and nothing for you.

Which friends!

By the way, thank you for your book. Oh! I couldn't read it yet.

What are you reading right now? Schnitzler. I like him very much.

Both "The Way to the Outdoors" as well as “Professor Bernhardi”.

A swaying mass most disgusting writing.

What? You can't do it push down deep enough.

Schnitzler?

Tea for the lady.

And nuts for the Lord.

What a wonderful feast!

*smack*

♪ Plucked violin melody ♪

*Sipping*

*smack*

Is something not right with the nut? How come? Oh right!

It is a chewing technique by Horace Fletcher.

Don't swallow anything, before you have bitten 40 times.

This is how the main part finds digestion takes place in the mouth.

*smack*

Thomas Mann wrote to me.

What? Please let me in peace or I call the police?

On the contrary. He's closed congratulated on my work. Mmm!

As far as I know, there is no living writer,

whom Thomas Mann did not congratulate.

He probably also congratulated the dead and unborn children.

One wonders, how he comes to write a novel.

* Laugh *

Franz.

Why are you looking like that?

I can't marry her. You can't or don't want to?

One due to his living conditions and his nature anti-social person,

sickly too, a non-Zionist Jew.

Why will you? not finally a Zionist?

I am disgusted by Zionism and I admire him.

A human, eliminated by his non-Zionist Judaism,

constantly at his best shocked in the most painful way.

Such a person should get married? Is that the problem?

Or do you have saw her again and...

How should I say that? - You didn't want to go to bed with her?

You're making this too easy for yourself. Sometimes it's that simple.

♪ Slow instrumental music ♪

Come on Max, let's go. Very much.

Good evening, sir. - Oh, good evening, lady.

♪ Embarrassed instrumental music ♪

I am engaged.

Oh!

That's nice, Mr. Franz.

I congratulate you. Who is the lucky woman?

Dear Doctor. Kafka.

Even though we don't know each other, I am writing to you,

because my friend Felice gave me is close to the heart.

She asked me to meet you.

I will at the beginning of November have to do business in Prague.

Then we could each other so get to know.

So I could fulfill Felice's request

and an extraordinary person get to know.

You can't stall them anymore.

I'm aware, dear Miss Bloch.

You do love her. I love you very much.

Then what are you waiting for?

I know Felice in form of four girls.

The first was in Prague, the second wrote me letters. Everything Felice.

The third in Berlin didn't have much affection for me.

Nothing is more natural. I understand that.

Who is the fourth?

Maybe she'll lead a good angel,

she leads narrowly or not so close to me.

The angel leads her to you, Doctor.

They belong together.

You are a good friend to Felice, Miss Grete. You too.

The fourth Felice socializes with strangers.

I hear about her in letters or their stories.

The authorized representative in your company.

And when we bring the four together?

But if we get married:

I would lose my loneliness,

but Felice her entire life.

She couldn't work anymore. What would she gain?

A wonderful person.

A weak one unsociable, silent,

sad, almost hopeless.

Then she also has two people Get price of one. * Laugh *

That's how they talk and talk.

the next day meet again.

Then Grete goes back to Berlin

and write now They also received letters.

He talks openly with Grete. She talks to him openly.

They talk about a lot of things especially about Felice.

And it seems to help because finally...

♪ Dissonant sounds ♪

Felice Bauer.

The detective answered. - We got smart.

What?

Do you think you can get engaged?

and we watch, How do you get ripped off?

Did you send a detective? We got smart.

And Mr. Papa has a moment lived somewhere else for a long time, it seems.

The brother... is a spendthrift.

Overall everything seems fine.

Your sister Erna has an illegitimate child,

that her mom doesn't know about.

Felice pays her living expenses and that of the baby.

They don't have to know that. Especially not the one with the child.

Greta told Franz about the baby

but that again Felice is not allowed to find out.

The important thing is, you can marry her.

Nothing stands in the way anymore.

Yes. Don't take it hard.

You probably have a detective too set for us.

The Kafkas and the Bauers:

Two families, countless secrets and hidden disasters

about to to unite into a family.

I recently the judgment read by Franz,

written after he met Felice.

I received a copy in the library.

The man wants to get married. His father condemns him.

My Franz doesn't write anything like that.

It's time, that the two get married.

It's already taking too long.

If you ask me: This is all nonsense!

How come?

Look how thin Franz is. Why does anyone want to marry him?

At least he has the doctor.

Go to Franz. He's not doing well at all.

Do you think? Society is not for him.

Connect with a person it's something so internal.

Now he has to be the ambassador be for yourself.

He can't do that at all. You know him well by now.

We talked a lot, about you and him.

That's kind of you.

Without you we wouldn't be here now.

I talk and ask him like this: "What kind of Nebochant are you?"

Do you know what he answers?

What's wrong with you, Franz? Hm? What's up?

What are you looking at?

Cheers to Franzl and to his beautiful bride.

Kiss the bride!

Yes! Kiss!

(Crowd) Kissing! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

♪ Hectic string music ♪

(muffled) Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

(clearer) Kissing! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

♪ Regretful Saxophone Sounds ♪

*applause*

♪ Threatening music ♪

* Ring *

Six weeks are over.

Summer is over Berlin and Dr. Franz Kafka is back.

There is a lot to discuss before marriage.

Felice has to move to Prague.

And none of that would have happened without the use of Grete Bloch,

with which he now is constantly connected.

Back then, letters came up to three times on the day. Yes, it happened that quickly.

People could constantly care for each other write, and if you were Kafka

and needed help, then this was done incessantly.

You already know how that went. And Grete now knew it too.

There is double restlessness in me,

because I have two questions cannot answer.

How will Felice be? What if I don’t log in anymore?

How will I be?

Now you see in me not Felice's groom,

but Felice's danger.

Human organizations can you don't pour it around like water.

Make up your mind!

At some point you have to stop with the quarrel.

If I were healthier and stronger,

all difficulties would be overcome.

They are stubborn.

Persistence can too be a result of desperation.

*phone ringing*

Are you okay, Miss Bloch?

As always in Berlin he lives in his favorite hotel,

not a beautiful one, but the one what he got used to:

The Hotel Askanischer Hof.

We are in 1914.

Really no one has any idea that this will happen soon the big war will come.

Dr. Kafka. I have reserved.

They are already expected.

Please?

Backroom.

You're confusing me.

Do not think so.

*creaking*

*door slams*

Sit down, Franz.

Felice, what is it? (interrupts him) Sit down.

You may now shout:

"No, it wasn't like that! It's like something out of a..."

But think about it.

If you say, it's like something out of a Kafka novel,

I can only answer: Think for a moment, why?

Grete? Doctor, you have told me things about Felice,

to which I could no longer be silent.

They promised marriage to Felice.

At the same time you have me said and written several times...

The letters are here.

You told me that you are don't feel capable of this marriage.

Both at the same time, sometimes on the same day.

You can't deny it, Franz. I have read the letters.

Duplicitous. There are no other expression for it.

You weren't honest.

What do you have to say?

If you don't say anything now, it can cannot be made good.

Coffee anyone? - Thanks. No.

I have to be clear, Franz.

Your reservations, the constant Postponing the wedding.

My family is worried right, Erna? Worried?

Yes. Sure, we're worried. Very worried. Very.

Finally be honest.

Explain yourself. You have to now explain everything, doctor.

* Scribbles getting louder *

♪ Menacing instrumental music ♪

Finally speak, Franz!

*Two loud thuds*

♪ Oppressive instrumental music ♪

Do you have us? really nothing to say?

♪ Threatening music ♪

*clink*

Someone had to Josef K. slandered.

Because without him had done something bad,

he was arrested one morning.

You can't leave.

Why?

We are not appointed to to tell you that.

What were they talking about? Which authority did they belong to?

Karl lived in a constitutional state.

There was peace everywhere. All laws passed.

Who dared to see him in his apartment to ambush?

So you're... not going to talk?

If you continue to remain silent, I can't do anything for you either.

You sit above me as a judge.

This is certainly disgusting for you. For me too.

But actually I'm sitting in your place and stay there.

I can't marry a man who doesn't want that.

You're right.

A man who speaks of love but wants to write his little books.

And only then becomes talkative,

when it comes to vegetarian cuisine, Nuts or gymnastics exercises are possible.

These are my identification papers.

You're getting into trouble as a small child.

Do you want your big, cursed one bring the process to a quick end,

by contacting us, the guards, discuss?

♪ Tense instrumental music ♪

So that was it? I have everything tried, Doctor Kafka.

♪ Tense instrumental music ♪

A good ending, isn't it?

Yes, a story would be after the trial in the Askanian Court

been over.

But because it's not a story, it continues afterwards.

Life is messier than all stories.

And now there is war. Europe is broken.

people die in unimaginable numbers every day.

This is Bodenbach, a hotel in the border station

between Austria, Hungary and Germany.

* Beat *

*Door squeaks*

Franz.

It's good to see you again.

Everything was very, very difficult.

So what happens?

It's been so many months.

I wrote a lot. Do you want to hear something?

Yes.

*clears throat* This entrance was meant just for you.

Stocks between the two Explanations: a contradiction?

You would be right and the doorkeeper would have deceived the man.

That's all?

He reads out.

Listen to him.

But I finally want him no longer have to listen!

To the doorkeeper a man comes from the country

and asks to enter the law.

But the doorkeeper says he can not allow him entry.

The man then asks if he later will be allowed to enter.

It is possible, says the doorkeeper, but not now.

Because the gate to the law is open and the doorkeeper steps aside,

the man bends down to get through to see the gate into the interior.

How good we are here together.

When the doorkeeper notices this, he laughs and says:

"If you're so tempted, go but pure, despite my ban.

But remember, I am powerful and I'm just the lowest gatekeeper.

From room to room but there are doorkeepers,

one more powerful than the other.

Just the sight of the third one Even I can't take it anymore.

Such difficulties..."

And so he reads and reads and nothing happens.

He reads about a man, that all his life

waiting in front of a gate, that was always open.

"...gained entry because this one Entrance was meant just for you.

I'll go and close it now.

I'll go and close it now."

My train is leaving soon.

I know.

♪ Slow instrumental music ♪

* Cough *

Are you well, madam?

Just miss. Yes. Excuse me. Thanks.

It was a long train ride from Berlin.

How long were you traveling? Almost two days.

Oh! Do you remember,

than you can in seven hours drove from Berlin to Munich?

In another life. Yes. Before the war.

Now every military train has to be allowed in.

It was bitterly cold in the train stations.

All the way for a lecture? He is ...

I mean, so... was...

...is...my fiancé.

The gentleman reading today? Mmm.

Tell me, why a writer

at a time like this...

Do you know who that is?

♪ Slow instrumental music ♪

*applause*

Good evening. I'll read a piece,

that I recently finished writing.

It's probably good not much, but...

♪ Slow instrumental music ♪

In the penal colony.

On this edition the Convicts laid on their stomachs, naked.

Here are for arms and legs Straps for fastening.

This is where the face is.

The felt stump just enters the mouth.

He prevents the condemned man from Biting the tongue. Look.

*hiss*

*clack*

*hiss*

*clack*

*hiss*

*clack*

*hiss*

Do you understand the process?

The corner begins to write.

Is it with the first system the writing finished,

rolls the edition the body to the side.

♪ Depressing music ♪

*squeal*

*Muffled sounds*

*Fearful sounds*

*Crying screams*

*hiss*

*Typewriter typing*

*Muffled screams*

*Typewriter typing*

*Muffled screams*

♪ Threatening music ♪

Help him! Please help him!

*Pained whimper*

* chatter *

*Gasps and whimpers*

♪ Dramatic Music ♪

*Click*

*Single applause*

*Restrained applause*

You used to have such beautiful things written. Considerations.

Felice, you came especially.

So far.

I wanted to listen to you. That was outrageous. Thanks.

I am Rainer Maria Rilke.

I know.

This is my fiancée, Miss Bauer.

It is a great honor to me.

Your novella about the stoker is one of the...strongest

and... most wondrous works, that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

What a merciless consequence

and what a peculiarity of the darkened clear view.

The same consequence I see in this story,

although blackened in blood, but ...

It would be more appropriate in times of murder.

Have you read The Heater? I've read everything from you.

Your transformation has me rocked into nightmares.

How can you write like that?

and otherwise simple go about your day's work?

What do you do, ...

... Franz Kafka?

I am working in accident insurance.

Mutilation?

Blood?

And bloody steel? In large amounts.

Now I can't say that I am amazed at this.

And you, madam?

I... am an authorized signatory at a company in Berlin.

They have a real job of your own?

I have so much of my own career like you don't have your own job.

I actually don't have one.

Not everyone gets away with it.

And ...

What does this company do? there in Berlin?

Where you are an authorized representative?

She makes machines. Machinery.

The contemporary master of the world.

That's what I would have said too, if I could have said it like that.

I tell you:

The ore will become homesick

and from the machines return to the mountains.

You can wish for something like that, but it won't happen. No.

It won't happen.

God be with you, ... Franz Kafka.

God bless you.

I am afraid, You will need it.

And with you, madam.

Did you hear what he said? He read everything.

Everything.

♪ Depressing instrumental music ♪

* Strangle *

Then, in the last year of the war... This is called a hemorrhage.

* Cough *

* rattling *

They say I have tuberculosis, but I keep this disease

rather for a general bankruptcy in me.

They can't both to stay alive.

Both? The one who would have to live with you

and the one who will do that, what I have to do.

The task is monstrous.

One of us has to die and not the one who works.

The task. You mean writing? * Cough *

* rumble of thunder and call of crows *

You make it very easy for yourself.

You took my youth, as if she belonged to you,

wrote me letters, full of them Beauty, wit and passion.

You tied me to you, as if you were entitled to it.

And then you have it all the time talked about you having to write.

You overestimate yourself.

That's why you make yourself so small.

You are my human judgment, Felice.

Whatever that should be called again.

So now I say, what I always said

but today I say it for the last time:

My train is about to leave.

No kiss goodbye!

When we met for the first time have seen,

did you ask me, whether we go to Palestine.

Why have we never done this? If we had done that...

Do you believe, would everything have been different?

♪ Melancholic Instrumental sounds ♪

They never saw each other again.

*Slow typing*

*Door opens*

My God, Franz. You are completely pale. She left.

I have to do it alone. What should because that's what it means? We all are ...

None of you are married, even if you think you are.

What do you mean by that?

♪ Melancholic Instrumental sounds ♪

*sob*

Isn't it terrible that something like this has to happen?

♪ Slow string music ♪

Copyright subtitles: NDR 2024