Maďarský herec János Bán visited Festival Jiří Menzelwhich takes place in Prague Theater Without Railings until 28 April. He not only remembered the meeting with the famous director, but also revealed what he does in his free time.
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About a legendary film The village has a resort we heard a lot at the Jiří Menzel Festival. Therefore, everyone is probably interested in how you are doing and what you do in Hungary.
I live only for pleasure. But I’m fine, thank you. I work as best I can, but there’s less. I am only active at the József Katona Theater in Budapest. I do not accept other offers very often, only in exceptional cases. I spend my time mostly in my house at Lake Balaton and I deal with agriculture.
Agriculture? What do you grow? Do you have a farm, a field full of vegetables and also animals?
Farm is an exaggerated word. I grow mainly fruit and vegetable and I create all the good that comes out of it. So I make brandy, make my own wine. Please take agriculture figuratively, I simply have a garden. However, few people know that I was born a farmer. I’ve been an artist for a long time and now I’m returning to village life.
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However, theater is still a big topic for you. Can you tell us what you are doing specifically?
I’m not trying any new games at this time. I only play previously staged productions. Currently, that means twelve evenings a month for me.
You have now visited Prague as part of the Jiří Menzel Festival. Are there any friends you will meet with the Czech Republic? What is your program?
Yes, I have friends here, but at the moment they have two of them covid. The lady who interpreted for me during filming The village has a resort, does not feel well. Otherwise, I can’t catch anything at all. When we finish this interview, I will have to write a few text messages and I have a lot of other work to do. Already as a private person.
You will not enjoy visiting Prague at all. Are you planning to return?
I wanted to spend more time here, but unfortunately, my current work commitments do not allow it.
Do you perceive how popular you are here in the Czech Republic? Are people stopping you on the street?
Yes. Thank God. And also unfortunately.
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Are you uncomfortable?
Mostly not, but sometimes it can bother you. In Hungary, for example, I have to hide. I only let people I know or consider them professionally acceptable into my aura. It is not supremacy or aristocracy on my part. I’m more of a big introvert.
Many today would find it controversial to portray a mentally retarded young man in a film. How do you view this philosophy?
That’s a really good question. I don’t think the basic philosophy was different during the filming. It is a fact that the view of the mentally handicapped has changed a lot over the years. And as far as I know, more in a positive sense. I think it is very important that we talk about these issues – that phenomenon. I personally consider the integration of these people to be very important. Not just from a humane point of view.
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The village has a resort: Thanks to the film, Otík did not stay on the street. Labuda was a thorn in everyone’s eye
How your preparation went then in the role of Otík?
For filming The village has a resort I have been training for about a year and I have met a lot of children who are having some mental problems. I have seen heavier and lighter cases. I took a lot of notes and eventually came to the conclusion that there is some deformation in each of us. Some people notice that they have a minor flaw – a strange look, speech impediment or a deformed ear. Everything is seemingly fine and the sufferer is living a happy life. Then someone from the outside world comes along who considers him a weirdo. He will either reject him or accept him with difficulty. Depends on the intelligence and the sophistication of the person.
But to return to your original question. I invented the denture for Otík not only because of his retardation, but also because of my Hungarian. It helped me cover up the foreign accent. Mr. Menzel told me at the beginning that this was a bad idea. We’ve been with a week Mr. Labudou tried. He videotaped it and after two days he told me: “Put the prosthesis back on!” In the end, three factors spoke in favor of the denture: practical issues, observation of the affected people and then its use in practice. It just worked.
Do you think artists have a harder time now? Mr. Menzel made nice and funny films, but on topics that could be considered controversial and easy to challenge today.
This film looks at the subject with great kindness and humanity. Anyone who would like to complain about this film is simply a fool or a political affair.
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