ðə ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp ʌvðə fˈɪlm wɪððə wˈɜːks ʌvðə ɹˈaɪɾɚ fɹˈænts kˈæfkə hɐz ˈɔfən bˌɪn nˈoʊɾᵻd, fɔːɹ ɛɡzˈæmpəl: ðə mˌɛɾəmˈoːɹfəsˌɪs, tˈɛlɪŋ ʌvðə bɹˈuːɾəl ænd sˈʌdən tɹænsfoːɹmˈeɪʃən əvə mˈæn ˌɪntʊ ɐn ˈɪnsɛkt; ðə kˈæsəl, wˌɪtʃ dᵻskɹˈaɪbz ɐ sˈɜːtʃ fɔːɹ wˈʌnz ˈoʊn aɪdˈɛntᵻɾi baɪ wˈeɪ ʌv ɡˌɛɾɪŋ tə nˈoʊ "ðɪ ˈʌðɚ"; ðə tɹˈaɪəl, wˌɪtʃ sˈiːz ɐn ɐkjˈuːzd mˈæn bɪkˌʌm ɐn ˈaʊtlɔː ʌv səsˈaɪəɾi.
The relationship of the film with the works of the writer Franz Kafka has often been noted, for example: The Metamorphosis, telling of the brutal and sudden transformation of a man into an insect; The Castle, which describes a search for one's own identity by way of getting to know "the other"; The Trial, which sees an accused man become an outlaw of society.