Michael Kocáb is the founder of the cult group Prague Selection, one of the founders of the Civic Forum, and in the nineties he coordinated the removal of the Soviet occupiers.
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“Michal was the first most active initiator of the withdrawal of the troops, it was something breathtaking, if it had not been done immediately, God knows how it would have turned out,” said Sommer. “Also, he’s very creative and would come up with ideas and do dog bits on set.”
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“I can’t tell him to do this, he has to come up with it because he’s playful. The film is an hour and 42 minutes long and the rich life could not fit there. There was politics, civic engagement, rock music, classical music.”
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The family was amazing
“I was surprised that he is a good person and that his family was wonderful, open. We shot without any problems.’
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“I asked myself if I deserved it. I was honored, moreover, Olga Sommerová is a famous director. I told myself that I have to do my best for it,” said Kocáb.
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In the film, he also recalls his beginnings as a musician.
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Remembering the beginnings
“We had a trio with Jiří Stivín and Ondra Soukup. That Jirka was already famous and important then. He put us in a situation where we had a concert in Hungary and I wonder what we will play it in. He said: in shorts… It was nerves and the school was on fire.”
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But Václav Havel influenced him the most. “During the entire presidency, I was his advisor, we became friends in such a way that he also became my son’s godfather. He was inspirational, full of wisdom and humor. He was a personality of such magnitude that world politicians still quote him today.”
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Children are also a great source of inspiration for him. “The longer we keep our childlike nature, the longer we keep a piece of innocence and joy in life,” concluded Kocáb.
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