Review of Kafka (1991)
Seen in 2016.
There are strong vibes of Brazil (1985) here, but with greater weaknesses: This bureaucratic police state seems less stable, less credible and less interesting as a dystopia, yet the fantasy aspects are subdued compared both to Gilliam and to Kafka, and the conceit of putting an author in a world inspired by his own work never seems to add anything. The cinematography is mostly just careful framing of Prague buildings for exoticism in American eyes. I do like the ending, which is a bit like waking up from a nightmare. Irons, Russell, Holm and Guinness are all fun to watch, though.