Three Britons, director Ken Loach, scriptwriter Paul Laverty and critic Neil Young remained standing all through today’s KVIFF Talk. They apparently wanted to be more visible in the Vodafone lounge, even from the back seats of a full house. They also apologized for speaking only English in the Czech Republic, “arrogantly” assuming that all would understand anyway.
Judging by the audience’s questions and mood it seemed that those present were really appreciative of the pair awarded this year’s Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. In their films, Loach and Laverty reveal their great interest in politics as well as their left-wing views. Unsurprisingly, the KVIFF Talk thus focused mainly on political topics, particularly regarding the situation in today’s Britain.
The whole talk started, however, with admiring references to the Czechoslovak new wave. “It is thanks to films such as Loves of a Blonde that I learned how to tell true stories in a simple manner”, said Loach. “What I like about those elegant Czech films is their gentle humour, the fact that they are funny, insightful and human,” added Laverty who also recalled his first visit to Karlovy Vary seventeen years ago, when his partner Icíar Bollaín was on the main jury with Abbás Kiarostamí.
The discussion also touched on the beginnings of the collaboration of the established duo who have won two Golden Palms in Cannes, on Laverty’s only acting experience in Land and Freedom as well as Loach’s method of capturing actors’ authentic reactions. The relationship between the Englishman Loach and the Scot Laverty is by all accounts very harmonious. “We only shout at each other when we the telephone line is bad,” said Loach.
