Karel Gott himself approached you to make a film about him. What was the reason you nodded at his offer?
It is a great challenge to make an authentic film about such a famous person, whose behavior is so exceptional with humility, decency and kindness towards people, but at the same time I wanted to shoot weaker, more painful moments. I believe that my film is really complete Karel Gott.
What period did you capture?
I filmed Karel from October 2018 until his departure. At the beginning, of course, we didn’t know how it would turn out that Karel would be sick, so the original script was supposed to be more hopeful. But Karel was brave about the disease. And that’s in my movie too, and I really appreciate it.
Did you learn anything new about Karel Gott?
She found out. The way Karel approached his illness, the way he was balanced and calm, the brave, was something completely unexpected for me.
How did you approach filming to avoid a pathetic monument?
The basis is that you approach a person without the intention of harming him, that you want to understand him even in the weaker moments of his life, that you want to make a portrait real. In addition, Karel gave me confidence from the beginning together with his wife Ivanka, who is also the producer of the film, so this is a wonderful basis for creation.
How much material was created and how did you decide what to cut and what would remain in the film?
I still regret what I threw away, but I know it has to be that way, because the film originally had seven hours, and in the end it has two. I always see scenes that aren’t there. You decide with your heart to make it good, exciting, adventurous.
It took a year to premiere. Do you think that the time lag will change the perception of the film?
It is a great pleasure for me that it comes after that hard time in the pandemic, because I think that Karel, as he was, could kick people, strengthen them.
What was strongest for you during the filming?
I have an older man and a little daughter myself, so it was very difficult to be there when Karel Gott’s daughters had their father sick. I am grateful that Karel let me into his life even in moments that someone might not just let go.
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