Documentary filmmaker Olga Malířová ŠpátováKarel“Balancing the artistic career of the biggest star of Czech pop music, Karel Gott, is undoubtedly unique in that he was the only one to capture the moments when he struggled with a serious illness, which he eventually succumbed to. At the same time, however, it is one of many proofs that the nation-loved “Master” was willing to do anything for his fame and even direct his own death.
It is just a question of how far Karel Gott built his monument himself and what role his wife Ivana played in this. Probably not a small one, because, as the feature film and its sequel, entitled “Karel Special”, which Voyo now presents, shows, it is really ubiquitous in it. In almost every scene, she presents herself as a loving and caring wife and mother, who even puts on her husband’s shoes, massages his hands, takes care of his glasses and hearing aids, and willingly looks for fallen powder under the table, one of many that he has to swallow in the morning. them or brain pills). Fortunately, Karel Gott himself saves a lot with his sense of humor and irony. For example, when he advises his daughter Charlotte to become a primary rather than a singer: “Singer is no longer a profession of the future, Charlotte, everything has been sung.”
On the edge of the cult
As admirable as her care for her seriously ill husband was, as producer Ivana Gottová, she could not guard the border, when some moments of Karel Gott’s legacy are rather hurting. This applies especially to the aforementioned amateur “special”, composed of unused footage that was not included in the feature documentary. There are far too many different monologues and dialogues balancing on the edge of the “personality cult”.
For example, the scene of Gott going to Germany with his family is embarrassing, trying to call the non-existent record company Polydor, with which he collaborated for many years, and calculates how many albums he recorded with her at the door. Or a completely useless passage depicting an angry “Master” signing his albums and photos because he didn’t have the right “fix”. Similarly, it does not do him much good to connect with critics who believe that the lyrics must have a deep content, while praising: “It’s so beautiful to sing about nothing.”
Ivana Gottová did not help her husband, not even herself, with this set-up, although there can be no doubt that the most loyal “Master” fans will be delighted by the next “special” and moved to tears. However, those who do not belong to his fan club make it clear to her that they are trying to please the audience too much, but the sympathy of the crowds does not win. While some think Gott will be “wring“For a long time, opponents defend their idol: “That’s how the famous dead are mined everywhere.”
Sources: Author, Voyo, ČSFD.cz, Idnes.cz
