Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic - Veteran Czech-born film
director Milos Forman said Saturday he believes that filmmaking in
his nation has emerged in a good shape from the tough post-communist
era.
Speaking at a press conference marking the world premiere of his
latest movie, jazz opera A Walk Worthwhile, the 77 year-old director
of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus said the Czech
Republic's long traditions of filmmaking had stood it in good stead.
The fall of communism 20 years ago brought filmmaking across
Central Europe to a virtual standstill.
But returning to Prague to film A Walk Worthwhile in the city's
prestigious National Theatre, he said he was 'was amazed by the
professionalism of the industry.'
'I think that Czech movie making is in good shape,' said Forman,
who found himself the unwelcome target of the Czech communist secret
police before he fled the nation in 1968. He eventually made his way
to Hollywood.
A Walk Worthwhile is a re-creation of Forman's 1966 television
version of the Gershwin-style musical by Jiri Suchy and Jiri Slitr
with a rather modern storyline about a couple who are poised to
divorce but are pulled back together again because of the prospects
of a big inheritance.
Considering the period when the original TV series was made, it
would easy to pick through the musical for a political message.
But, said Forman, 'To be honest we would not have thought about it
having any political connotations. That would have got you in a lot
of trouble,' he said.
'There was not a political aim,' he insisted.
But he did say part of the reason for the TV program's success was
the musical's rich use of the Czech language which he said
represented a significant break from 'the official grey language of
the time.'
Indeed, also speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival Suchy said
that during the communist era the theatre world had played a key role
in resisting the nation's Moscow-backed rulers because of what it did
not say.
'Theatre,' said Suchy 'was very political because it was not
political.'
'I knew I was being followed and photographed,' said Forman about
his life in Prague during communism.
'I thought it was naive of them to think that I would start
something,' he said.
But then living under a communist dictatorship was less cut and
dry as many might think.
'Even the secret police are not perfect,' said Forman, referring
to his chauffeur who was on the secret service's payroll. 'He knew
that I knew and I knew that he knew.'
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