Můj laskavý objektiv – Vondrák Jiří (2024)

Czech singer-songwriter, writer, and documentary filmmaker Jiří Vondrák (* 1954) has encountered many personalities from the world of cultural events during his filmmaking career. In his memoir book My Kind Lens, he includes thirty-six miniatures, in which he recalls beloved musicians, actors, writers, and other artists he got to know closely and with some of whom he even became friends. After all, who among us can say they were at home with Bulat Okudzhava? Who among us has an original drawing in their book by Hugues Aufray, Vlastimil Třešňák, or Jiří Suchý? Who has ever been asked by Gilbert Bécaud to sing for him? Who can boast that Johnny Winter burned a hole in their car upholstery with a cigar? And on the other hand, we must admit: Who among us would have dared to advise Milan Kundera on writing at the age of fourteen? ***** Jiří Vondrák's readable memories bring many unknown details and insights from the artistic industry and are valuable, among other things, because they are not sadly nostalgic; quite the opposite. The described meetings and filming with significant figures from our culture and the world, although sometimes full of stressful moments and tension, are captured in the author's original narrative with dignity, respect, and humor over time. Most of the portrayed personalities...