Cohen Media Group has announced FRANZ, the latest film from celebrated Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, will arrive on Blu‑ray and DVD on October 20. The film offers an ambitious and unconventional portrait of Franz Kafka, reframing the life of the influential writer through a visually inventive and emotionally grounded lens.
Rather than presenting a traditional biographical narrative, FRANZ approaches Kafka’s life as a shifting mosaic. The film moves across decades—from his childhood in 19th‑century Prague to his final years in post–World War I Vienna—capturing the contradictions, anxieties, and creative impulses that shaped his work. Holland blends historical detail with impressionistic storytelling, creating a portrait that reflects both Kafka’s inner world and his cultural legacy.
The film features Idan Weiss in a widely praised performance as Kafka, supported by Peter Kurth, Jenovéfa Boková, Ivan Trojan, and Sandra Korzeniak.
Festival Reception
FRANZ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it immediately drew critical attention for its structural boldness and Weiss’s portrayal of Kafka. The film has since traveled to a wide range of festivals, including:
- San Sebastian
- Busan
- Vancouver
- Chicago
- Woodstock
Upcoming screenings include Newport Beach, Denver, and Cairo.
Critics have highlighted Holland’s inventive approach:
- The Hollywood Reporter called the film “playful and moving… the only proper life‑spanning biopic made so far about Kafka.”
- The New York Times praised its formal experimentation and Weiss’s performance, noting, “I was with the movie all the way.”
- Deadline described it as “a playful biopic that investigates the enigma of one of the 20th century’s most influential writers.”
The film is produced by Marcin Wierzchosławski, Alicja Jagodzińska, Uwe Schott, and Jorgo Narjes, with support from the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union. Sound design is crafted by Marek Hart and Michaela Patriková, and Kevan Van Thompson serves as Executive Producer.
About Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland is one of Europe’s most distinguished filmmakers. Born in Warsaw in 1948, she studied at FAMU in Prague before beginning her career under the mentorship of Krzysztof Zanussi and Andrzej Wajda. Her work spans decades and genres, earning her three Academy Award® nominations for Angry Harvest (1985), Europa Europa (1990), and In Darkness (2012).
Her filmography includes:
- Olivier, Olivier (1992)
- The Secret Garden (1993)
- Total Eclipse (1995)
- Julie Walking Home (2001)
- Spoor (2017)
- Mr. Jones (2019)
- Charlatan (2020)
- Green Border (2023), winner of the Venice Jury Prize
Holland has also directed episodes of acclaimed television series such as Treme and House of Cards. With FRANZ, she turns her attention to Kafka, crafting a portrait that is both expansive and intimate.