A Documentary About Milan Kundera

Miloslav Šmídmajer / Czech Republic / 90 min.

synopsis

The documentary presents all of Milan Kundera’s major works and their themes. In the West, little is known about his early poetry and plays. Until recently, none of his novels written in French were published in the Czech Republic. In addition, Kundera is shrouded in a number of myths. Why has he refused to give interviews or appear in the media since 1985? Why has he avoided public life, and is even said to have very few friends? These myths make him an oddity, and the documentary gradually confirms or refutes them while emphasizing Kundera's views on artistic creation. The film is framed by the "story of a student" who gets it into his head that he wants to try to get an interview with Milan Kundera. He gradually familiarizes himself with Kundera's texts and opinions, with his friends and co-workers, until he finally understands that what is important and what remains is one’s work, not the vicissitudes of life.

Miloslav Šmídmajer

You can watch the presentation here:

The live discussion with the director will be streamed on November 1 via our YouTube and Facebook

biography

Miloslav Šmídmajer made his debut with his documentary Stick to That Dream about Miloš Forman for Czechoslovak Television in 1990. This was followed by a series of portraits - Here I know why I am (1991) about Jiří Menzel, Occupation: Cameraman about Miroslav Ondříček, Premises about Theodor Pištěk, Life is a Zebra about Lucia Bílá, Three Lives of Vladimír Pucholt and The Return of Saul Zaentz. He also devoted himself to musical documentaries: Saxophones on the Move, Pavarotti in Prague, Nazareth: Infinite Rock Party, The First Seven Days (about Jan Hammer) and travelogues - Behind the People of Paradise. He returned to the topic of Miloš Forman twice with the documentaries Taste of Glory (1996) and Miloš Forman: What Won't Kill You… (2009). He is currently finalizing a documentary about Milan Kunder and a documentary about Jan Werich with Martin Sluneček.