Second Free Screening of Franz Kafka's 'Before the Law' | Bolton Central Library
Arts
Theater
This screening will take place in the lecture theatre at Bolton's Central Library. NOTE: Guests are allowed to bring their own refreshments BUT THEY MUST take their litter home with them. Trailer Franz Kafka’s ‘Before the Law’ (Dir. Brett Gregory, 2024, 15 mins) 'I believe ‘The Law’ should be accessible to all of us at all times!' When a man without a family or a home arrives at a mysterious tower in a mysterious land to request to meet ‘The Law’, he is confronted by two of humanity’s greatest enemies: Time and the Truth. Synopsis From Brett Gregory, the writer, director and producer of the multi-award winning British working-class feature film, ‘Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist’ (2022), arrives an oblique and unique short film adaptation of Franz Kafka’s classic parable, ‘Before the Law’ (1915). Bold, brooding and brutal, whether or not this ageless allegory is about the Laws of Nature, the Laws of Physics, or the Law of the Land, is entirely up to the audience. Production Background Produced by Serious Feather, and shot entirely in Bolton and Rivington in Greater Manchester and Lancashire by the highly talented director of photography, Gwyn Hemmings, this singular short film is, in turn, elevated by a beautifully baroque orchestral soundtrack composed and performed by the incomparable Andrew McCrorie-Shand. With disciplined and sensitive performances from three of the region’s most dedicated independent actors – Luke Richards as The Doorkeeper, Andrew Joseph as The Medical Student, and Robert Hedley as The Doctor – two of Kafka’s primary aesthetic concerns, his absurdism and his humanism, are memorably brought to life. Without any external funding available, the 25-strong cast and crew worked unpaid on the production in the summer of 2024 – an admirable achievement in itself – while also enjoying the unwavering support and understanding of Bolton Council, Rivington Heritage Trust, Bolton News and, of course, Bolton Central Library. The rationale behind this creative project is to not only, alongside the University of Oxford in the UK, commemorate the centenary of Franz Kafka’s death, but to also celebrate Bolton’s recognition as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2024. First Screening Reaction Avid fans of film, literature and culture braved torrential rain to attend the first free screening of Brett Gregory’s short film adaptation of Franz Kafka’s ‘Before the Law’ on Wednesday, 16th October. ‘Even though the weather had taken its toll,’ Brett comments, ‘the atmosphere was still electric, and the responses extremely passionate. It’s like everybody knew that the film was actually about something, about something that matters, about being human. ‘In the main the film asks who are we as people and why, tragically, do most of us wait for permission to live our lives? Permission we often will never receive. ‘For example, during the post-screening Q&A, a Bolton-based educationalist told me I was ‘sitting on a goldmine’, and that teachers and lecturers would ‘bite my hand my hand off’ to have the opportunity to use the film as a learning resource. ‘It covers everything,’ she said. ‘Performing Arts, English Literature, English Language, History, Media Studies, Media Production, Politics, and even Religious Studies.’ Julia Uttley of Live from Worktown, a community-based arts and heritage organisation with CIC status in Bolton, was extremely enthusiastic, and said, ‘Your film is fantastic, classical. I can’t believe you made it without any external funding. It will really inspire and motivate creatives throughout the whole of Bolton if they get to see it.’ Robert Hedley, a Boltonian actor now based in Didsbury, says, 'It was an absolute privilege to play the role of The Doctor in this unique and memorable production. Franz Kafka is one of the world’s literary greats, deep and complex, but Brett adapted his story with discipline, detail and aplomb.’ To date Franz Kafka’s ‘Before the Law’ has been entered into 18 international film festivals. Brett, writer and director of the 2022 multi-award-winning Manchester feature film, ‘Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist’, also announced at the event that Franz Kafka’s ‘Before the Law’ is the first film of a proposed four film gothic anthology to be shot entirely in Bolton. ‘The working title of the anthology of short films,’ Brett says, ‘is ‘Only Fear: Northern Tales of the Unknown and the Uncanny’, and it will feature adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Tell Tale Heart’, Guy de Maupassant’s ‘The Grave’, and an original screenplay I’ve written called ‘Death in a Northern Town’. ‘The anthology, once completed, will then be the length of a feature film and, in turn, will then be available to watch on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, for example. The overall aim of this will be to promote Bolton, its creative vibrancy and cultural dynamism, far and wide over many years. We already have a distribution deal in place. ‘As a consequence,’ Brett concludes, ‘I highly recommend that those wishing to be actively a part of this unique non-profit project to attend the second screening of Franz Kafka’s ‘Before the Law’ so ideas can be discussed further.’ PLEASE NOTE: This discussion will involve the practical teaching and learning possibilities for 'Before the Law', as well as casting crewing opportunities for ‘Only Fear: Northern Tales of the Unknown and the Uncanny’. For further information please email brett@seriousfeather.com Publicity Bolton News 5th March 2024: Rivington's Pigeon Tower to feature in film based on classic tale Bolton News 15th April 2024: Old Bolton Magistrates Court to be used for Kafka's 'Before the Law' Bolton News 15th May 2024: Cast announced for classic gothic tale, 'Before the Law' Bolton News 17th August 2024: Filming of Kafka story wraps up at Rivington's Pigeon Tower Bolton News 5th October 2024: Franz Kafka’s classic ‘Before the Law’ screening in Bolton Bolton FM radio interviews Brett Gregory about Franz Kafka's 'Before the Law' (2024)
Information Source: Brett Gregory | eventbrite