The trial (1962)
Orson Welles described 'The Trial' as the best film he made. Some critics, however, disagree and reiterate that 'they just don't get it'. I fall into the latter category - I get it but the artistic appreciation is beyond me!
Anthony Perkins (yes, Mr. Norman Bates himself), the star of the original 'Psycho', acts in this movie where he (Joseph K) is rudely awoken early one morning by a few men assumed to be from the police to tell in so many confusing way that he is under arrest for an unspecified charge. There are two other characters Mrs Grubach (the landlady) and Ms Burstner, a night club worker and neighbour speak in a confusing manner just to make things more mysterious. K is summoned to attend what is supposed to be a preliminary hearing but it appeared more like a court with cheering spectators! Chaos seem to be the word of the day with K giving a sermon to the cheer of the crowd of thousands.
He leaves the court when a man just manhandles a girl to the cheering of court attendees, just to harassed by the policemen who arrested him and whom he openly accuses of bribery in court.
Then back to his workplace which looks more like a big godown where the staff work robotically just typing away and leave in unison when it is time to go. You see, all the surveillance is done by a computer.
Even lengthy conversations are monitored. It is amazing that the whole set-up (court, office, advocates office etcetera) are all like a maze with series of doors open from one to another. And everywhere there are stacks of filth of files all over the place.
Then come Uncle Max (K's distant uncle) to his rescue after hearing that his nephew is in trouble with the law. He brings him to see his lawyer, Hastler, (Orson Welles). At the lawyer's office, K seem to be more interested in the lawyer's flirtious nurse (his mistress) who is supposed to taking care of the ailing lawyer. K's case seem to go nowhere with cascades of bizarre happenings like court clerk volunteering to adjust his case for sexual favours, Hastler's mistress also offering herself to adjust the case and so on....
Basically this movie is an abstract expression and mumbo jumbo of a satire of sorts about the legal system and prejudices in law.
Cases just delayed and delayed, clients are treated indifferently after they have committed themselves to the lawyers. The clients are kept coming back and coaxed to stay loyal to their advocates. The law is made to sound too complicated to them. And the advocates are made to look like indispensable and they demand a demi-god status. First, the advocate refuses to take his case due health reason then later refuses to allow the client to terminate his services.
Even the painter who paints for the judge, promises to help out in arranging the outcome of his case.
As he comes out of a building, he is appended by some policemen who dump in a man made hole and a bomb is thrown into it denoting the use of hoodlums in the justice system or amongst lawyers.
It is a classic but may not be everybody's idea of a movie to catch on a lonely evening.
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| Based on novel by Franz Kafka |
Anthony Perkins (yes, Mr. Norman Bates himself), the star of the original 'Psycho', acts in this movie where he (Joseph K) is rudely awoken early one morning by a few men assumed to be from the police to tell in so many confusing way that he is under arrest for an unspecified charge. There are two other characters Mrs Grubach (the landlady) and Ms Burstner, a night club worker and neighbour speak in a confusing manner just to make things more mysterious. K is summoned to attend what is supposed to be a preliminary hearing but it appeared more like a court with cheering spectators! Chaos seem to be the word of the day with K giving a sermon to the cheer of the crowd of thousands.
He leaves the court when a man just manhandles a girl to the cheering of court attendees, just to harassed by the policemen who arrested him and whom he openly accuses of bribery in court.
Then back to his workplace which looks more like a big godown where the staff work robotically just typing away and leave in unison when it is time to go. You see, all the surveillance is done by a computer.
Even lengthy conversations are monitored. It is amazing that the whole set-up (court, office, advocates office etcetera) are all like a maze with series of doors open from one to another. And everywhere there are stacks of filth of files all over the place.
Then come Uncle Max (K's distant uncle) to his rescue after hearing that his nephew is in trouble with the law. He brings him to see his lawyer, Hastler, (Orson Welles). At the lawyer's office, K seem to be more interested in the lawyer's flirtious nurse (his mistress) who is supposed to taking care of the ailing lawyer. K's case seem to go nowhere with cascades of bizarre happenings like court clerk volunteering to adjust his case for sexual favours, Hastler's mistress also offering herself to adjust the case and so on....
Basically this movie is an abstract expression and mumbo jumbo of a satire of sorts about the legal system and prejudices in law.
Cases just delayed and delayed, clients are treated indifferently after they have committed themselves to the lawyers. The clients are kept coming back and coaxed to stay loyal to their advocates. The law is made to sound too complicated to them. And the advocates are made to look like indispensable and they demand a demi-god status. First, the advocate refuses to take his case due health reason then later refuses to allow the client to terminate his services.
Even the painter who paints for the judge, promises to help out in arranging the outcome of his case.
As he comes out of a building, he is appended by some policemen who dump in a man made hole and a bomb is thrown into it denoting the use of hoodlums in the justice system or amongst lawyers.
It is a classic but may not be everybody's idea of a movie to catch on a lonely evening.
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