FILM v BOOK

The Skeleton Remains

“The book was so much better than the movie” is a quote as old as cinema, however when a movie, as well as the book gives you a brilliant lesson and those two lessons complete one another it is a new situation entirely. Now, to compare two separate views of the exact same material is a task indeed; however in this particular instance one has a brilliant focus tying the two together. Both stories follow the plot of Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” novella. However there is one point where they differ dramatically. In Kafka’s original work, Gregor wakes up fully transformed into an insect, whereas in Carlos Atanes’ cinematic remake Gregor suffers only a partial transformation. What does it mean for Gregor to remain half human? Well it means Carlos was trying to bring attention to a new point and in a way, leave his mark on the world of literature. By drastically changing the imagery Carlos modified the entirety of Kafka’s well-disguised connotation.  Though this is the same story, research uncovers two different lenses through which to view this work. The writer as well as the author hides their own moral deep within the work, waiting patiently for a diligent reader to uncover it.

As a writer Kafka’s outlook on life was severely dark and twisted. He saw the world as an endless cycle of life and death in which everyone involved efforts to be remembered were futile and lacked meaning. When one dies, his family may mourn for a time, but that period of depression will be short lived and the role that said deceased individual left vacant will be filled by another until they inevitably vacate it as well. A dark outlook? Yes, a twisted and morbidly disturbing view of life? Most definitely, but this was Franz Kafka and this was the underlying theme of his metamorphosis. Gregor fully transforms and falls from grace, lives out the remainder of his days in a useless manner, and finally vacates his slot in life. The role is immediately filled by his sister and life goes on at its unstoppable yet glacial pace.   . Thank you Mr. Kafka for your sunny disposition.

From Antanes’ remix of Kafka’s novella the story begins the night prior to the change as opposed to the morning of. Instead of being locked in his bedroom, Gregor is confined to the library. Rather than be a fully transformed pest, Gregor is a half-humanoid, half-insect atrocity. All these changes, some minor as they may be, have modified the entire theme of the work.

By starting the day preceding our author’s opening day, our director gives a more intimate look into the human Gregor.  We see him as a loving caring person who clearly loves his sister above all others. He then retires to the library where while reading passes out only to wake up a humanoid monster. However, one can still see the human half of Gregor.  This depicts a man who is fighting to remain himself.  This is a portrayal of a man who is on hard times and is struggling merely to survive.  By keeping the original translation of what the transformation symbolized, which was a fall from grace; one can conclude that Gregor has only partially descended.

The theme changes in cinematic from roles and endless cycles, to strength in one’s family.  What Gregor needs to survive, to save him from his downward spiral to an inexorable and gruesome conclusion to his life, is his family’s support. Should his family step in and lend him their aid, he could survive.  However, he is shunned by his family and confined to the library, blamed for the negative occurrences that fall upon the household, and is forcefully beaten should he venture out of his cell. This is not how family should treat one another! No one could ever hope to strive in these conditions. Our director begins the movie showing the viewer how much love exists between the brother and the sister. Later he blatantly focuses on a single line uttered by the sister. All camera’s focus on Gregor’s sister as she proclaims “Can you not see! This is not my brother!” (Atanes) A devastating blow indeed to the main character of this tragedy. Following this, he returns to the library and finally surrenders to the cold darkness.

A slight tweak here, a turn of phrase there, and what was our original novella is turned to an entirely new work. With the theme changed the cinematic was a mere skeleton of the original work. So in truth, what started as a meshing of two views of the same story was a comparison of the same work no longer.  It became a contrast of two spectacular works tied together only by their both sharing the same plot. Applause to our director as well as our writer, Kafka gave us a look at the inescapable reality of a futile life cycle. Antanes gave us a lesson on family reliance and when the two works come together one finds themselves truly enlightened.

Works Cited

Carlos Antanes

"THE METAMORPHOSIS OF FRANZ KAFKA: FILM ON-LINE." THE METAMORPHOSIS OF FRANZ KAFKA. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.carlosatanes.com/metamorphosis_franz_kafka_online.html>.

Kafka-Online

Gregor. "Franz Kafka." Online. Gregor, 2007. Web. 25 May 2012. <http://www.kafka-online.info/>.

KafkaFranz

"Franz Kafka Writing." Franz Kafka Writing. Web. 25 May 2012. <http://kafka-franz.com/franz-kafka-writing.htm>.