John Malkovich was the biggest star of the festival yesterday, and here are some reflections of what he had to say.
Since he has acted in more than 70 films, I asked him at yesterday’s press conference what role he felt suited him the most. Despite initial hesitation, he eventually answered it was a role he played in the movie Colour Me Kubrick: “In that movie I impersonated a character that walked around pretending he was Stanley Kubrick. And throughout my life, I walk around pretending to be John Malkovich.” The journalists chuckled.
It might be easier to understand what he meant if you’ve already heard him speak before. The brilliant actor has his own typical style of responding. “I always think before I speak,” says Malkovich. And he clearly means what he says.
Apart from being on tour with his new play Infernal Comedy, which has just finished playing in Vienna and will continue in Spain, he is also scheduled to meet with former Czech president Václav Havel, who, he says, is a very bright man. Malkovich has read Havel’s latest play Odcházení (Leaving), as well as his Letters to Olga, which Havel wrote while in prison.
When asked whether he prefers working in film or in theatre, Malkovich answered without hesitation: “They are like two distinct cousins, you cannot compare… It’s like when some musicians play more than one instrument.”
And has he covered all the themes he wanted in his movies? “No,” he said. “And not because there weren’t enough chances.” Malkovich has several projects going on at the moment, most of them to be shot in the United States; however, at least two of them should be filmed in central Europe.
Besides Malkovich, another big star to come to the festival is Antonio Banderas, one of the most popular actors today. He arrived at the spa town yesterday night.
Finally a tip: The long-awaited concert of Jaromír Nohavica will take place tonight, starting at 10pm at Poštovní dvůr. If you haven’t already got your tickets, make sure to get them soon because the performance of this renowned Czech lyricist and musician is not to be missed.