The Insurance Man (1986)

The Insurance Man Poster

Franz, a young man, works in a dye factory in Prague. One day he notices a skin-rash, like eczema, growing on his hands. All attempts to treat it with ointment fail, and the rash gradually spreads over his body. After complaining to the management he is laid off work; his relationship with his fiancee is affected. In an attempt to get compensation from his former employers he goes to insurance firm Assicurazion Generali, where he encounters an enigmatic clerk called Kafka.

Film Overview
"The Insurance Man" is a British tv play composed by Alan Bennett and directed by Richard Eyre. It was produced by the BBC and very first aired in 1986. Embed in the early 20th century, the play is a mix of historic drama based on the life of Franz Kafka and social satire revolving around the British working class. Featuring famous actor Daniel Day-Lewis playing the role of a young Kafka, the film takes viewers on an esoteric journey through the labyrinths of insurance administration, beset by suffering mankind.

Plot Summary
The primary plot of "The Insurance Man" focuses on a working-class British male named Joseph Carr who works in a chemical factory. He struggles with a strange, debilitating skin problem believed to be caused by the chemicals at his work. His complaint versus the factory falls on deaf ears, so he turns to his insurance company for assistance, leading him to Kafka's workplace, where Kafka is working as an insurance coverage officer.

Franz Kafka, represented by Daniel Day-Lewis, is an optimistic and empathic clerk working for the insurance provider. He runs on a margin between reality and fiction, embodying the complicated, dehumanizing system that the protagonist, Carr, is up versus.

Styles and Symbolism
"The Insurance Man" utilizes components of surrealism and absurdity, matching Kafka's own unique narrative style. Bennett's movie script records Kafka's awful worldview superbly, using it as a metaphor for the labyrinthine and indifferent nature of administration. Kafka's office is portrayed as an incomprehensible maze, just like the overbearing systems depicted in his books. The film highlights the person's struggle against an impersonal systems/norms and the often useless attempts to navigate its bureaucracy.

The suffering and exploitation of lower-class workers is another theme that's heavily explored in the film. Carr's storyline acts as a critique of commercial commercialism, reflecting on its impacts on the working class. His skin problem ends up being a sign of the physical and psychological toll of an extreme, exploitative work environment.

Cast and Characters
Daniel Day-Lewis brilliantly represents the role of Franz Kafka, showcasing his ability for embodying complicated characters. His performance got critical acclaim, more sealing his status as a highly respected star. Jim Carter plays the role of the suffering employee, Joseph Carr, effectively portraying the plight and decision of an underdog.

Other notable efficiencies consist of Prunella Scales in the function of the Factory's chief clerk's better half and Robert Lang as the Factory's chief clerk. Each actor contributes significantly to the depth and richness of the story through efficient characterization.

Important Reception
"The Insurance Man" was admired for its informative script, outstanding efficiencies, and its effective blend of dreamlike narrative with social commentary. Critics particularly praised Daniel Day-Lewis's representation of Kafka and the film's thematic exploration of administration and human suffering.

In conclusion, "The Insurance Man" is a cinematic meditation on the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy, the exploitation of employees, and the resilience of the human spirit. The movie stands as an engaging tribute to Kafka's literary legacy, offering a distinct analysis of his life and worldview.

Top Cast

  • Daniel Day-Lewis (small)
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    Kafka
  • Robert Hines
    Franz (young)
  • Alan MacNaughtan (small)
    Alan MacNaughtan
    Doctor
  • Trevor Peacock (small)
    Trevor Peacock
    Franz (old)
  • Jim Broadbent (small)
    Jim Broadbent
    Gutling
  • Hugh Fraser (small)
    Hugh Fraser
    Culick
  • Vivian Pickles (small)
    Vivian Pickles
    Lily
  • Bernard Wrigley
    Workmen
  • Charlotte Coleman (small)
    Charlotte Coleman
    Seamstress
  • Rosemary Martin (small)
    Rosemary Martin
    Miss Weber
  • Geoffrey Palmer (small)
    Geoffrey Palmer
    The Angry Doctor