Django: A Detailed and Honest Documentary About My Life

Has anyone ever wanted to make a big documentary about you in the past?

Not to the extent that Olga came up. There were only TV documentaries such as 13th Room, My Places or other short films that mapped my current situation. Usually all of this was shot in a day, but Django had forty shooting days.

It documents my life since I was a child, it’s about my family, my band, my life and it’s very detailed. At the same time, it is not a biopic, which I like.

Was there a script?

I didn’t get one and I don’t know if Olga had one. Not at all. In my opinion, everything was created on the fly. We didn’t know each other before and it was obvious that she didn’t know where I would let her into my life. And I let her go everywhere. Either for sensitive things from my personal life, or for filming in my bathroom at home.

Nothing is recorded in that film. Everything is true, just like I said on camera the first time. I think this is crucial.

Does that mean that the picture of you sleeping in a chair at home with a newspaper in your hand is not about your trick?

Anyway, I fell fast asleep. And I love that Olga filmed it and left it in the film. Basically, I only had a problem with the Bolshevik archival photos she used. I told her to cut them out because I never liked it.

But in the end, I came to the conclusion that it is her film, she presents herself with it, and if she wants these pictures to be the end of the era, let them stay there . I also wish I had been told to change the chorus of my song, which I think is good.

In those, as you say, Bolshevik scenes, there are May Day parades. Did you go to them?

I was never in them, even though they wanted me to be. Once, people from the Pragokoncert group, which represented artists at that time, came to my wife Jana and urged her to convince me to participate in the parade.

She then told me that she had been followed by my boss from Pragokoncert, who came to our barracks by accident, because it was at a time when the houses were not locked, he rang our doorbell and said that he was coming to try it. He told her I had to go this time. I didn’t go at all, I’d rather go to our second house on Prapasti.

Then I saw on TV​​​​ how people from the Pragoconcert were carrying a banner with a slogan, but basically no one was there for the artist.

There is one missing line in the movie after all, which is your relationship with the brothers Jiří and Slávek. Why did you lose her?

Jirka died three years ago, so we couldn’t be in the film. If not, it would definitely be there. And I am not in any contact with Slávek.

Because of the fraud he did to you in the nineties, when he made sure in the resettlement that the house after your father in Prague in Vinohrady was registered to him only, although he promised h- everything that was necessary to arrange for the three brothers?

Yes, because of that. In addition, it is unpleasant. When journalists approach him without my knowledge to confront him, he either denies it or avoids communication. There is butter on his head. He did the last thing. I have to admit that I am surprised that he still hasn’t found the courage to call me and tell me that he couldn’t do it all that time so that I can forgive him.

Yes, I would forgive him now. If he apologized.

Did you discover something new about yourself as a result of the film?

I understood the values. I realized that two are the biggest and most important. Music and family. I am very happy to have five children. Unfortunately, my son Petr died, but I have four beautiful girls around me, which is very fulfilling and fun for me.

And I can say that if I wasn’t so old, I would still want another child. My wife Alice would go for it, it wouldn’t be a problem for her. But I’m already at my age, after all.

The film also includes footage of a Ukrainian family who lived with you for a few months after Russia invaded their country. Today he is back in Odessa. Are you in contact with her?

Yes, we are on the phone. Olga says that the people stayed with me for nine months, but I think it was only five. I moved them into the house where the musicians live when they record in my studio. They arrived in the first days of the war. At first I said I would take ten people. But twelve of them arrived, and then two more. I entertained them all.

Then they said that it is now calm in Odessa. Everyone told them that their house had stopped being bombed and they could go back. And they did. A few months ago, a woman contacted me that she was marrying her daughter, so I should come to the wedding. But I was worried and I didn’t go. However, I believe that we will meet at some other time, sometime after the war. I consider them part of the family.