The premiere of a documentary about Karel Gott will take place in Prague
Updates: 04.10.2021 01:12
Released: 04.10.2021, 01:12
Prague – The ceremonial premiere of the feature-length documentary film Karel about Karel Gott will take place today in the Slovanský dům in Prague with the participation of creators and guests. The film by director Olga Malířová Špátová had its premiere at another place last September 18, when the Febiofest film festival officially opened. The premiere was then postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film will be in cinemas from October 7.
The more than two-hour film Karel contains a number of little-known archival materials and many of Gott’s hits. Many rare film shots were made during the filming, so giving the final form was a difficult task. Eventually, the creators had to start discarding those sequences and shots that they originally intended for the film. “The first cut was over seven hours,” said Špátová.
The director’s goal was to authentically capture Gott as a phenomenal singer, as a painter, but at the same time a loving husband and father of his children. However, the film is not intended to be a showcase of Karel Gott’s undeniable fame and achievements. The director did not want the film to be too long and to follow the wishes of the main actor. “Our film must not be boring,” Gott told her during filming.
Karel Gott died on October 1, 2019 in his villa in Bertramka, Prague. He was being treated for acute leukemia. The legend of Czech popular music, which influenced several generations of listeners, was 80 years old. Fans could say goodbye to the popular singer in the Žofín Palace, where approximately 49,000 people came on October 11. A day later, a funeral mass was held in St. Vitus Cathedral, where relatives, friends, co-workers, politicians, singers, actors, athletes and other invited guests came to say goodbye to Gott. Saturday was also a day of state mourning.
Špátová has made thirty original films, for which we have won awards at domestic and foreign festivals. For example, the film A Well-Paid Walk? 07, for which he won the Vojtěch Jasný Grand Prix. The Gott Phenomenon (2009) became the most watched television film of the year, Eye Over Prague (2010), which won the main prize at the Warsaw International Film Festival. She made two music videos for singer Aneta Langerová, both of which won the Anděl Award.
