A Country Doctor (film)

A Country Doctor is a 2007 animated short film directed by Koji Yamamura, based on the short story of the same name by Franz Kafka, "Ein Landarzt." The film is a largely faithful adaptation of Kafka's surreal and allegorical tale. It depicts a rural doctor summoned in the dead of winter to attend to a gravely ill patient. His journey is fraught with bizarre and disturbing encounters, including otherworldly horses and a grotesque wound. The film is known for its distinctive animation style, utilizing a variety of techniques including pencil drawing, charcoal, and pastel. It evokes the unsettling and dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of Kafka's work. The film has been widely acclaimed for its artistic merit and its successful translation of Kafka's complex themes into a visual medium. Key themes explored in the film include alienation, the futility of human effort, and the absurdity of existence.