Another world premiere at KVIFF was Because I Have To, in which first-time director Jakub Kučera captures the work of artist and performer Miloš Šejn. “I’m not someone who enjoys seeing or hearing himself. But I think the film is truthful,” replied the film’s protagonist when asked at the start of the post-screening discussion how he felt after the premiere.
The documentary essay was three years in the making, with Kučera and cinematographer Filip Rejč filming the first performance in July 2023. “It involved water, a watering can and a scarf. We had a rough idea of how we’d film it, but within five seconds we scrapped it and simply followed Miloš through the process,” explained Kučera, adding that none of the performances were repeated and each was filmed in a single take. “When we realised we had no idea what was going to happen, the only option was to stay fully present and tune into Miloš. When I saw him walking into the mud, I took off my shoes and followed him,” said Rejč, describing the unusual filming process. “What Miloš does is infectious and requires your complete concentration. We began sensing what he himself was connecting with, so in a way we experienced our own transcendent ritual,” added the director, who also worked as the sound engineer on the film, which is shown in the Imagina section.
Following the screening, audience members, many of them visibly moved by the film and describing it as a reminder of the essence of being human, also asked Miloš Šejn how he felt about appearing in such an intimate film. “Over the years, I’ve taken part in a number of public performances, so it all sort of came together, and actually I’m not surprised we’re here today. As a child, I often had a dream that I was standing behind the curtain at the National Theatre. The curtain would open and I would find myself in front of a huge audience. And then I’d wake up. Today, I don’t think that would bother me at all,” the artist reassured the audience. He also stressed that he had tried to remain completely natural in front of the camera. “The film crew was so professional that they simply edited out the moments when I wasn't,” he said with appreciation.
