K (2002 film)

K is a 2002 Czech psychological drama film directed by Karel Kachyna. It is a loose adaptation of Franz Kafka's unfinished novel The Castle (German: Das Schloß), updating the setting to contemporary post-communist Prague.

The film centers around Josef K., an unnamed architect, who arrives in a small, seemingly insignificant village with the intention of working for the "Castle." However, he is met with bureaucratic obstruction, indifference, and labyrinthine regulations that prevent him from ever reaching his goal or receiving any clear answers about his employment or purpose.

The narrative explores themes of alienation, powerlessness in the face of authority, the absurdity of bureaucracy, and the individual's struggle against an indifferent and impenetrable system. The film attempts to capture the nightmarish and surreal atmosphere characteristic of Kafka's work.

The film stars Jirí Ornest as Josef K. and features a supporting cast of prominent Czech actors.