Sunday 19/11/2000

The Czech director David Ondricek was convinced that his film would move and affect not only the Czech audience but also the foreign one. The film presents in a humorous way the dramatic and tragic situations of its main characters and David Ondricek pointed out that humor is the dominating element of Czech's attitude to life; Czechs are constantly making fun of themselves.

The film was initially played in the theater before the shooting which resulted in many changes in the final screenplay. Shooting lasted for 65 days. During this period, all actors and people involved participated actively in the production of the film each time doing different jobs. An artistic "cohabitation" took place during the shooting. The film thus, expresses the opinion of all people involved in it.

The screening for actors lasted a year and finally, the actors that were chosen were unknown and became famous right after the film's opening in Czech cinemas.

David Ondricek is interested in politics but as he pointed out, he would never shoot and produce a political film. He prefers to do what he knows best. He highlighted that American cinema has invaded his homeland but in the same degree with other countries. He also said that he agrees with the effort that is made throughout Europe for the screening and promotion of European films.

Shootings were done in places that didn't attract tourists in order to show the unknown side of Prague. He underlined that many people feel tired from the constant promotion of Prague's architectural memorials and thinks that the unfamiliar and not so beautiful image of Prague was better suited to the protagonists' problems.

In reference to cinematographic production of the Czech Republic he mentioned the fact that up to recently, 20 films were shot in Prague every year. He regards his film one of the best of the year based on the fact that 400.000 tickets were sold. "Czechs are proud of their cinema" he added.

He laid emphasis on the fact that in the old days the production cost of filmmaking reached one million crones while today, the money invested in a film is not returned. The film's budget reached 1 million US$ while now he is shooting a film budgeting 9 million US$, the most expensive production in the history of Czech cinema.

He also mentioned that there is a succession in Czech cinema of the 60s' to this day since his father Milos Forman has been the cameraman in all his films.