Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life

Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life (1993) is a short comic film for BBC Scotland. Written and directed by Peter Capaldi, it stars Richard E. Grant as Franz Kafka and co-stars Ken Stott. The title refers to the name of the writer Franz Kafka and the film It's a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra, and the plot takes the concept of the two to absurd depths. The great writer is about to write his famous work, The Metamorphosis, but inspiration is lacking, and he suffers continual interruptions. The film features a rendition of "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" from the operetta Naughty Marietta. In 1994, the short won a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film. The following year it tied for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film with Trevor.