An initiative of the
Breathless. A Documentary Film Project /
Vùng biên giới. A Theatre Project with Rimini Protokoll /
rádio d-cz. A Radio Art Project /
Vùng biên giới. A Theatre Project with Rimini Protokoll /
rádio d-cz. A Radio Art Project /
I Love My Boring Life
by Jan Gogola (CZ 2009, 26 min)
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Editor: Zdeněk Marel
Camera: Jiří Zykmund
Sound: Jiří Melcher
Line producers: Tereza Horská
Shooting format: 16mm/ 35mm
Producer: Jiří Konečný / endorfilm
Life in a house in the Prague neighbourhood of Zbraslav is the focus of this film. This place represents a slice of the world and merges various events and connections, both of a daily and timeless nature. The starting point is the diary of grandmother Alena Němcová from Zbraslav and the film “The Diary of Grandmother Němcová” which Jan Gogola shot ten years ago and now serves as a kind of “script". The film from 1999 was based on the diary of Jiřina Němcová – Alena`s mother-in-law. Both women are from the same house and both diaries include notes about matters of a private, family, social, real and also surreal nature.
Over a period of five years, grandmother Alena Němcová casually documented the weather, her dreams, details about her morning gymnastics, cooking and the habitual hectic at home, as well as world politics, human relations, religion and the zeitgeist. The diary of this ordinary woman is transformed from an account of daily family life, weather observations and political events into a surreal approach to eternity.
Director’s comment:
“The subject of Breathless represents a challenge to express the idea that we live a hurried - i.e. not quite our own - life if we succumb to the conventions of the time, give up our individuality and merely survive. Diaries are generally an example of processing the world in one’s own way, in its commonplace and timeless aspects. I think that we – through the creative experiences during the shot with the Němec family, who I’ve known for more than ten years – were able to achieve both: an entertaining and at the same time serious film that deals with the different worlds existing under the roof of one house. The most fascinating thing about this idea is that it can be realized in a run-of-the-mill household. I’ve always tried in my films to transform reality, and not merely depict it.”
Mentor’s note:
“As far as the Czech side is concerned, I am most excited, how Jan Gogola and his team handled the visual challenge of his project, apart from the diary pages’ substance which is already known to be impressive. I love his talent to show the oddities of life on the screen in an entertaining and surprising way and in close touch with reality.” (Peter Badel, d.o.p., Germany)
Prizes:
At the Czech premiere of the film at the 12th International Documentary Film Festival Jihlava, Jan Gogola won the prize for the category “Best Czech Documentary”.
JAN GOGOLA
Born in 1971. Studied Journalism at Charles University and documentary film at FAMU –Film and TV School of the Academy of the Performing Arts, Prague. Formerly commissioning editor for Czech TV. Resumed filmmaking career as a director, script editor and lecturer at FAMU. His film The Diary of Grandmother Nemcová was awarded the first prize at FAMU film festival, Prague in 2000.
Filmography:
Nation to Itself, or 18 High Tides of the Czech Sea (2003)
Non-stop (2002)
Panenka Against the Rest of the World (2001)
Witness Frantisek Daniel (1999)
Nemcova’s Babicka Journal (1999)
Ave Branik (1999)
Prague Miserable: Panelak is a Friend (1999)
Veseli pod moravou (1998)
Distance and Contact of Dan Trubac (1998)
Vila Inocent (1997)
Intolerance (TV series) (1998-2000)
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