Forman pays tribute to Czech film resilience under communism

Jul 4, 2009, 18:30 GMT

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.'