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February 14th, 2007 issue

The public should pay for watching the performance of Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek — such a good theater performance should definitely not be free. The profit would be added to the state budget, of course, but hurry up, to catch it while he lasts, writes Alexandr Mitrofanov in Právo Feb. 9.

Our government is led by a boor who plays tricks on people — this is my way of describing my impression of Topolánek’s behavior since he became one of the four most powerful men in the Czech Republic. It is usually very amusing to watch a clown, but in Topolánek’s case the fun is tempered by his arrogance. He has finally reached a senior position and tries to flaunt it as much as he can.

Social Democratic (ČSSD) MP Miroslava Kopicová challenged Topolánek for his rude gesture (giving the finger to Communist MP Vladimír Koníček in Parliament Feb. 2). Topolánek’s reaction was brief — he charged Kopicová with making the same gesture during the speech by the education minister. He finished his speech toward Kopicová with the words: “There’s a big mess in Parliament and you’re going to lecture me about morality and ethics?”

Another ČSSD MP, Bohuslav Sobotka, asked boring financial questions about pending reforms and Topolánek’s only answer was, “You don’t expect me to reply to such questions, do you?”

Finally, Topolánek explained his point. Apparently, Topolánek’s biggest dream is to be like former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman. His lifelong dream is to offend all deputies during one parliamentary session, just as Zeman once did.

It’s nice to see Topolánek’s long-term plan for running his relationships with other deputies. It’s nice he has an idol, too — this is especially important for someone whose personality is still in development. Hopefully, Topolánek will be pleased with this: He nearly reaches Zeman’s level of vulgarity, writes Mitrofanov.

What happens in Berlin, Cannes or Venice does not really resemble the friendly ongoings at Karlovy Vary, Darina Křivánková writes in Lidové noviny Feb. 9.

These are more like the movie Olympics. At one time, practically all the film journalists from all over the world would concentrate in one spot in order to report on the new movies that organizers pitch at the festival. This is the implication: A movie that is screened at one of these festivals is being written about. And things that are being written about are also talked about, and what is being talked about is a matter of interest. Festivals mean that the door to the world is open for a film. There is a great film market and distributors are pondering new buys.

Czech film can turn into a profitable business only if it is sold abroad. That is why we should label this year as a “turning point.” Jiří Menzel’s film I Served the King of England has a chance at the Berlinale; there is also Grand Hotel … and the two-part puppet film Fimfárum. At this point, the critical reservations toward King of England are put aside, the remnants of national pride win out and the motto “It’s not important to win, but to participate” applies. When it screens in Berlin, practically every newspaper worldwide will be writing about it and distributors will be interested in it. And, in this way, King of England will perform a great service to Czech cinematography, Křivánková writes.

— Compiled by Naďa Černá and Hela Balínová

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