When you about 9-10 you were chosen for film “Vyhrávat potichu”, then came film “ Veronika”. Was it somewhere around this time when you came to decision that acting and film is what you wanna do in your life?

I guess so, yes. You know, it is very attractive for small kid to be in film. My parents were bankers and brother was a doctor so no close relation to the film. And now, out of blue I was acting next to stars like Jana Hlaváčová, Jiří Bartoška, Rudolf Hrušínský sr or Martin Růžek, who I knew only from TV. It was great time for me and while other boys were kicking a ball in the park I was acting. I don´t have any recollection at school, since those from film were so strong that completely overshadowed those from school. I guess I was pretty good cos I went from film to film.

Is it truth that at secondary school you tried to avoid acting since you felt you are no good?

Sure, it is. I was 15 and I acted in film ” Cesta na jihozápad”.As a small you are natural but when you grow old you start to judge yourself, look often to the mirror to see how you look and if all is fine and natural innocence is gone. I didn´t feel right anymore while acting but thought” when I am so long in the business what should I do?” So I chose directing and almost whole secondary school ignored math and physics but read a lot, studied history of art and literature. I really thanks to God that he pulled me out from acting. When I work with such talents and Ivan Trojan, Jiří Dvořák or Tatiana Vilhelmová, it´s obvious I can´t match them. So I cleared myself behind camera and I feel comfortable there. But when someone like Dušan Klein asks me to play in his film “ Jak Básníci čekají na zázrak” I accepted that and went to help him. But I would take the leading role, I would feel I screw it up to fellow director.

It´s nice you admit that and you have that self- reflection…….

Of course, one should know in which floor does he take a crap (laugh).It is in human life… look around and you will see so many hyped people, who are not able to look at themselves correctly. They live under some false illusion that they can do more than they are able to do. If you play football in local division you can´t even dream for second about playing with Messi in Barcelona, it wouldn´t work. It probably would work in opposite direction…(laugh).Now in my TV series” Labyrint” I acted very small part but I don´t like doing it since I don´t have that urge of self- exhibition.

We read that you are told to be one of the kindest directors in Czech film business, true or false?

I think it´s down to your Nature. A kindness isn´t attitude which one would rationally create. Then he would be manipulator and that isn´t truth. I like when people around me like each other, they enjoy working with me and I am pleased when they are happy. Making a movie is a team work. When there are 50 people around, for each of them it must be pleasant experience. I know from my own experience, that if people who have to work with you, not because they are paid for that, but because they want to and they see they are part of a team, they give you much more than you ask for them. If someone brings good idea, that´s perfect. I believe that, that camaraderie and niceness transfer into film. You as a viewer can´t see that but you feel it.

Is in the case your acting experience a bonus for you as a director?

I think so-I know what actors feel like while in front of the camera. I don´t force them into doing things that wouldn´t work. Jiřina Bohdalová told me when we made Vrásky z lásky, “you know that cos you feel it”.

You are very versatile director, making fairy tales, dramas, war stories. How do you pick up the topics, what is closest to your hear or you want to see what can you do and take it as a challenge?

I couldn´t make whole life just one genre, it would piss me off. It´s like with the chef who would make sirloin with cream sauce and dumplings every day. He also has to make Chinese or steak or Wiener schnitzel with potatoes or Italian pasta since it widen his abilities. So I do the same in film business, jump from genre to genre to widen my abilities.

In film “ Vrásky z lásky” you put together after 30 years former wife and husband and sworn enemies Jiřina Bohdalová and Radoslav Brzobohatý, who reconciled in the end. How did it go?

The whole film was built to allow them to act together. It was a nice way for mutual reconciliation. The old age washed away the sins from youth. It obviously took a long time since they were in their own trenches for long time so I had to make a diplomatic mission at the beginning. But it was nice to see how the ice thaw and they forgave each other. I am pleased we made the movie because Radek died half a year after premiere. I think it was very important for both of them, from human point of view and I guess I have some plus points above in the heaven for that.

We liked very much your film “ Brain storm”. Did we get it right that it was kind of hidden metaphor that people should have their relationships cleared up, since there is no second chance?

Exactly, you got it. It´s mild sci.fi, there is that powder which maybe is and maybe isn´t and we don´t have it to our disposal so as human beings try to find the ways how to reconcile, stop hating. The sooner we do it, the better cos tomorrow can be late.

When you choose something like Silver A, which is based on true story so you don´t have big maneuvering space, why do you do it? Do you want to re-tell the story from different angle or pay tribute to people who you respect?

That Silver A is great cos it is not a sci-fi, this is reality, how it really was. I never liked Russians films when Red Army soldiers were unbeatable, bullet proof and morally on the top-I liked kind of demythologizing. That Alfréd Bartoš become a real hero for me since he makes mistakes, he is human. By the way it was probably the best screenplay I have ever made film accordingly. Lucie Konáš wrote a great story.

How did you like the movie “Atentát” which Jiří Sequens made in 60´s and it is topic from same era?

One of the best film of its time, great director, great actors. That WWII time was very dramatic time, life threatening one which is always interesting for film makers. No doubt about that. What do we have today, show me a dramatic story from current time, we have food, no one shot as us (yet), we are spoilt. Only trouble is when tax officer knocks at your door (Laugh).

When you are directing and then you stand in front of the camera as an actor, is it difficult for you to throw away director´ s hat and not thinking” That´s crap, I would have done it differently”?

No, no, I relax.I can eat properly since someone is acting and I have time. When all is done in the evening I go home with clear head and with no stress. It´s great I really enjoy it.

Do you call yourself an independent director and how important is artistic freedom for you? What does independent film means according to you?

We live in free world so I can direct what I want, no one pokes his nose into it. Apart from producer who looks after the money. Of course I know I shoot Czech film in Czech Republic for Czech money, so there is some limitation. Maybe in shooting scene that I would like to make differently. So I am independent in picking up the topics. As for independent film…..? I think it is a will to do things differently. I can say that I am a mainstream director cos I believe that seats in the cinemas are there to be occupied and not empty. I like to make movies that are for everybody. But when I made movie “ Santiniho jazyk”, I knew not everyone will understand that an it is my worst marked film. I made id mostly for me.

How important is critic for you?

I don´t care much about that I have in mind a saying that my mate Karel Smyczek taught me “Don´t get crazy if they pray us, don´t shit yourself if they slag you off”. I have a right to make a film, they have a right to write critics, that´s democracy. I read a lot quotes on ČSFD where real fans write their views and it is very valuable for me. I take some of them into consideration and when I was making “ Anděl Páně 2” I had them in mind.

You are already in film business for 3 decades. If you compare filming possibilities in those times, where would you put 21.cetury?

I think the resources are drying up as the years go buy. It´s not easy, to make film these days. So I say “Thanks to God” for Czech TV or for RWE which sponsor Czech film. Although I hate that socialist dividing of grants I must admit if it wasn´t for Czech film fund, it would have been very difficult. I think we are still not rich enough to make film as an investment.

What do you think about saying that one doesn´t become and artist, he must be born as an artist?

Since I teach film directing at film school in Písek, I agree with that. I can teach them the craft but what they will make out of it, it´s up to them, and they either have it or don´t have it.

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