What is the plot of A Fratricide?

A 1981 Quay Brothers animation based on Kafka, hindered by music rights issues.

What are the key story phases in A Fratricide?

The story of A Fratricide progresses through these phases: Artistic Conception, Literary Adaptation, Production Obstacles, Distribution Blockade.

Name: A Fratricide
Released: 1981
Rating: 9

The Quay Brothers develop a six-minute animated short in 1981, establishing a distinct visual and narrative foundation.

Quay Brothers Animation — Six-minute animated short produced by the Quay Brothers in 1981. Location: United Kingdom
Kafka Literary Adaptation — Film adapts Franz Kafka's prose and the specific 1919 narrative Ein Brudermord. Location: Production Studio

The animation draws directly from Franz Kafka's prose and the 1919 short story Ein Brudermord.

Kafka Literary Adaptation — Film adapts Franz Kafka's prose and the specific 1919 narrative Ein Brudermord. Location: Production Studio
Voice Casting — Lutz Becker, a documentary director, provides the voice narration for the animation. Location: Recording Facility

Lutz Becker records the voice track, but the project immediately encounters critical legal hurdles regarding music licensing.

Music Rights Dispute — Producer fails to secure music rights, creating a legal blockade for distribution. Location: Production Office

Unresolved rights prevent public screening, leaving the film absent from official home media releases and archival circulation.

Unreleased Status — Film remains unscreened and is excluded from all official Quay Brothers DVD compilations. Location: Film Archive

Creative Foundation — Development of the six-minute animated short.
- Kafka Adaptation — Drawing from 1919 prose and short story.
- Visual Style — Quay Brothers stop-motion aesthetic.
Casting And Audio — Voice performance and soundtrack planning.
- Lutz Becker Voice — Documentary director provides narration.
- Music Licensing — Producer fails to secure rights.
Distribution Crisis — Legal and logistical barriers to release.
- Rights Dispute — Unagreed music rights block screening.
- Media Exclusion — Omitted from official DVD compilations.
Historical Context — Placement within Quay Brothers filmography.
- 1981 Release Era — Produced during early career phase.
- Cult Status — Recognized despite limited availability.
Narrative Themes — Underlying motifs from source material.
- Fratricide Motif — Brotherly conflict from Kafka story.
- Existential Tone — Kafkaesque atmosphere in animation.
Legacy And Availability — Current status and archival presence.
- Unscreened Status — Never publicly exhibited due to rights.
- Archival Record — Documented in film history references.

A man murders his brother in a crime of jealous passion. An adaptation of Franz Kafka's short story of the same name.