The Appeal and Appreciation of Kafka's Country Doctor: A Deep Analysis of the Story and Characters

Kafka's Country Doctor - A profoundly absurd world

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

novel

■ Release date

November 17, 2007 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Shochiku

■Frequencies

21 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Franz Kafka

■ Director

Koji Yamamura

■ Production

Yamamura Animation

■Works

©Yamamura Animation/SHOCHIKU

■ Story

I am a doctor. I have to go to a patient far away. I get in a carriage prepared by a horse-drawn carriage driver who suddenly appears. Leaving the maid beside the dangerous horse-driver, I arrive at the patient's house. A hot and humid room. A sobbing family. A boy with a rose-colored wound blooming on his side, wishing for death. Faced with events that are beyond my control, I can do nothing. I am a doctor. I am incompetent. I deceive myself to save myself, and thus I greet another morning of despair...

*Quoted from Shochiku DVD Club

■Explanation

One cold, snowy night, a humble country doctor receives news of an emergency. That's where it all begins. The doctor is toyed with by strange people, becomes paranoid, and is eventually thrown out into the cold. An absurdist drama based on a short story by the Czech writer Kafka.

*Quoted from the official YouTube channel

■Cast

・Countryside Doctor / Sensaku Shigeyama (Kyogen performer, Living National Treasure)
・Rider/Shigeyama Shigeyama (Kyogen performer)
・Doctor's Inner Voice 1 / Shigeru Shigeyama (Kyogen actor)
・Boy/Ippei Shigeyama (Kyogen performer)
・Doctor's Inner Voice 2 / Doji Shigeyama (Kyogen actor)
・Rosa/Hitomi Kanehara

■ Main staff

・Original author: Franz Kafka ・Director, scriptwriter, editor, animation, art: Koji Yamamura ・Music: Hitomi Hiyasui ・Sound design: Koji Kasamatsu ・Production: Yamamura Animation

Kafka: The Profound World of the Country Doctor

The animated film "Kafka: The Country Doctor," based on Franz Kafka's short story "The Country Doctor," was released in 2007 and introduced many audiences to its absurd worldview and profound themes. By expressing the work of the Czech literary scholar Kafka in the form of animation, this work depicts the world of the writer from a new perspective.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Kafka's Country Doctor" is simple, with a country doctor receiving news of an emergency and heading to the patient's house. However, it is filled with the absurdity and despair that are characteristic of Kafka. The doctor borrows a carriage from a horse-drawn carriage to head to the patient's house, but the horse-drawn carriage turns out to be a dangerous man, and leaves behind Rosa, the doctor's maid's daughter. When the doctor arrives at the patient's house, he finds the family sobbing in a hot, humid room, as well as a young boy with a rose-colored wound on his side. The boy wishes to die, and the doctor is tormented by a sense of helplessness that he cannot do anything. This story strongly evokes the sense of "helplessness" and "despair" that are common to Kafka's works.

Furthermore, the ending, in which the doctor deceives himself and wakes up in despair, symbolizes the self-deception and loneliness found in Kafka's works. These themes are ones that many people in modern society can relate to, making the work feel universal.

Fusion of video and music

The visuals of "Kafka: Country Doctor" are drawn with the distinctive touch of director Koji Yamamura. The story, which begins on a cold, snowy night, is expressed in colorful, fantastical images. In particular, in the scene where the doctor arrives at the patient's house, the atmosphere of the hot, humid room is depicted realistically, drawing the audience into that world. In the scene where the boy has a rose-colored wound, the use of color is very impressive, creating a strong visual impact.

The music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. Hitomi Hiyasui's music plays a role in further deepening the sense of absurdity and despair of the story. In particular, in scenes where the doctors are overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, the music emphasizes those emotions, deeply moving the audience. Additionally, the sound effects by sound designer Hiroshi Kasamatsu also play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

Cast performances

The cast of "Kafka's Country Doctor" is centered around the Shigeyama family, a group of kyogen performers. In particular, Shigeyama Sensaku, who plays the country doctor, uses his experience as a Living National Treasure to deliver a deep performance, realistically expressing the doctor's sense of helplessness and despair. Shigeyama Shimegosan, who plays the horseman, also firmly establishes his presence as a dangerous character, adding tension to the story. Shigeyama Ippei, who plays the boy, delicately portrays the feelings of a boy who wishes for death, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Furthermore, Kanehara Hitomi, who plays Rosa, realistically expresses the anxiety and fear of a servant's daughter, adding depth to the story.

Director's Perspective

Director Yamamura Koji portrays Kafka's work from a new perspective by expressing it in the form of animation. In particular, he skillfully uses color and music to emphasize the doctor's sense of helplessness and despair. He also puts great effort into the composition of the images to emphasize the absurdity of the story. For example, in the scene where the doctor arrives at the patient's house, he realistically depicts the atmosphere of the hot, humid room, drawing the audience into the world. In the scene where the boy has a rose-colored wound, the use of color is very impressive and creates a strong visual impact.

Evaluation and influence of the work

"Kafka: Country Doctor" has been highly praised since its release, winning awards at many film festivals. It has been especially praised for its high level of completion as an animation and for depicting Kafka's work from a new perspective. By expressing Kafka's work in the form of animation, this work has also succeeded in attracting new fans. Furthermore, by depicting the "powerlessness" and "hopelessness" of modern society, this work has resonated with many people and has a social impact.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Kafka: Country Doctor" is highly recommended for those who are interested in Kafka's works and those who are interested in animated films. This work also resonates with many people by depicting the "helplessness" and "hopelessness" in modern society. You can purchase it at Shochiku's DVD Club. Also, some of it is available on the official YouTube channel, so if you're interested, check it out.

Related Works and References

Works related to "Kafka: A Country Doctor" include other short stories by Franz Kafka and other animation works by director Koji Yamamura. In particular, Kafka's "Metamorphosis" and "The Trial" are works with absurd worldviews and profound themes, and have many elements in common with "Kafka: A Country Doctor." Director Koji Yamamura's "Mt. Head" and "Macbeth" are also works that are characterized by their unique fusion of visual expression and music, and are highly acclaimed like "Kafka: A Country Doctor."

References include the original novel of "The Country Doctor" by Franz Kafka and a collection of interviews with director Koji Yamamura. By reading these documents, you can gain a deeper understanding of the background and production process of "Kafka's Country Doctor." Film critics' reviews and audience impressions are also helpful. By considering this information comprehensively, you can gain a deeper understanding of the appeal of "Kafka's Country Doctor."

Conclusion

"Kafka: Country Doctor" is an animated film based on a short story by Franz Kafka, and its absurd worldview and profound theme have resonated with many audiences. This work, which combines director Koji Yamamura's unique visual expression, Hitomi Hiyamizu's music, and the performances of the kyogen performers Shigeyama Ikka, has been highly praised for its high level of completion as an animation and for depicting Kafka's work from a new perspective. By depicting the "helplessness" and "despair" in modern society, it has resonated with many people and has a social influence. "Kafka: Country Doctor" is highly recommended for those who are interested in Kafka's works and animated films. You can purchase it at Shochiku's DVD Club. Also, some of it is available on the official YouTube channel, so if you're interested, check it out.