WEST GERMANY/FRANCE, 35MM, 1.37:1, B&W, 130’
[Opening credits, white text on black, in German]
– Klassenverhältnisse
– Film by Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub
– Based on the novel by Franz Kafka, Der Verschollene (Amerika) (S. Fischer Verlag) [1911–14]
– Camera: Willy Lubtchansky, Caroline Champetier, Christophe Pollock
– Sound: Louis Hochet, Georges Vaglio, Manfred Blank
– Lighting and Grips: Jim Howe, David Scott, Georg Brommer
– Assistants: Klaus Feddermann, Ralf Olbrisch, Berthold Schweiz, Manfred Sommer
[End credits]
– [Cast] Karl Rossmann: Christian Heinisch, Giacomo: Nazzareno Bianconi
– Uncle: Mario Adorf
– Brunelda: Laura Betti
– Delamarche: Harun Farocki, Robinson: Manfred Blank
– Chauffeur: Reinald Schnell, Line: Anna Schnell
– Captain: Klaus Trabe, the Head Treasurer: Hermann Hartmann
– Schubal: Gérard Semaan, Steward: Jean-François Quinque
– Pollunder: Willi Vöbel, Green: Tilmann Heinisch
– Klara: Anne Bold, Mack: Burckhardt Stoelck
– Servant: Aloys Pompetzki, Pollunder’s Driver: Willi Dewelk
– Theresa: Libgart Schwarz, Head Cook: Kathrin Bold
– Manager: Alfred Edel, Head Porter: Andi Engel
– Waiter: Alf Bold, Other elevator boy: Salvatore Sammartino
– Police: Klaus Feddermann, Henning Rademacher, Taxi Driver: Franz Hillers
– Inn Keeper: Lydia Bozyk, Student: Georg Brintrup
– Americans: Thom Andersen and Barton Byg
– French-German co-production of Janus-Film [Frankfurt] with Hessischer Rundfunk and NEF Diffusion, co-financed by the BMI, FFA and the Hamburger Filmförderung
PRODUCTION DATES AND LOCATIONS: July 2 to September 20, 1983 (Hamburg and Bremen), September 21–25, 1983 (New York and St. Louis).
EQUIPMENT: 1 Moviecam 35mm camera, 1 Nagra.
BUDGET: 600,000 DM.
SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH by Huillet and Barton Byg, IN FRENCH by Huillet, IN ITALIAN by Huillet and Domenico Carosso, IN DUTCH by Huillet and Frans van de Staak.
FIRST SCREENING: 1984 Berlin Film Festival, Competition (February, Special Jury Prize); 1984 New York Film Festival (October).
