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Franz

Franz

feature film
PRE-PRODUCTION

Circle. For Kafka, it is a source of fascination. He is not the first or the last artist to be enchanted by it. Legend has it that when commissioned to send his best painting to the Pope, Michelangelo sat down and drew a circle. The artist stated that if the pope was truly wise, he would understand that there was no greater perfection. Kafka, however, does not perceive the circle as an art object. For him, it represents a border, a symbol of inner freedom. In his diaries, he often speaks of the agonising desire to step out of this circle that imprisons him both physically and mentally. By leaving it, he could observe and evaluate the world from the outside, but when he tries to exit the circle, a deep chasm opens up in his perception. A void that unexpectedly separates him from the inner world inside the circle. He compares this state to owning a luxurious villa while only being able to experience it from the outside, and thus being deprived of its dazzling interior. On the other hand, if he remains inside, he cannot perceive the house in its unity. In order to be able to write, he must make a decision. Form or content: An eternal search. During his short earthly existence, Kafka does not find a solution. It is we who, with the passage of time and the awareness of his life and work, can state that Kafka himself becomes the border of freedom and bondage in his masterpieces.

DIRECTOR
Agnieszka Holland

PRODUCERS
Šárka Cimbalová, Agnieszka Holland

CO-PRODUCER
X-FILME – Uwe Schott, Jorgo Narjes
Metro films – Marcin Wierzchoslawski

CO-PRODUCERS CZ

Czech Television 
Barrandov Studio
Czech Anglo Production (Kevan Van Thompson, Václav Mottl)
CertiCon

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Mike Downey, Kevan Van Thompson, Daniel Bergmann

SCREENPLAY
Marek Epstein, Agnieszka Holland

CAST
Idan Weiss, Jenovéfa Boková, Ivan Trojan, Josef Trojan, Vladimír Javorský, Karel Dobrý, Stanislav Majer, Juraj Loj, Ondřej Malý, Anita Krausová, Emma Smetana, Jan Budař, Tomáš Dalecký, Michal Isteník, Vasil Fridrich, Pavel Šimčík, Filip Kaňovský, Sandra Korzeniak, Peter Kurth, Katharina Stark, Sebastian Schwarz, Gesa Schermuly, Štěpán Klán

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Tomasz Naumiuk

EDITOR
Pavel Hrdlička

MAKE-UP DESIGNER 
Gabriela Poláková

PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Henry Borarosz

WARDROBER DESIGNER 
Michaela Hořejší

Film is being made under the auspices of Minister of Culture, The city of Prague and Prague 1. 

Financial supported by Czech Film Fund, Prague Audiovisal Fund, Pilsen county.  

Film was supported by Eurimages.

Main media partner is BigBoard.