Following its world premiere in the Grand Hall, Helena Třeštíková’s new documentary biography Bára – Diary of a Rockstar about the Czech singer Bára Basiková was also screened with a follow-up discussion at the Karlovy Vary Theatre. “We would be happy to hear your reactions. You are our audience,” said the director before receiving enthusiastic feedback praising the film’s emotional power, moving moments and honesty.
“It is, of course, something of a shock to me. I visited the editing room often when the documentary was being made, so I was prepared for the result. But sometimes the result still surprises you. A person changes over time. I can truly see myself as I really am. Thanks to Helena, I have a record of my life that will stay with me forever,” said Bára Basiková when asked what it was like to see her own life unfolding on screen.
The time-lapse documentary was made over the course of thirty years. In the 1990s, Třeštíková was preparing a series of portraits of ten women. She became interested in Bára Basiková after an interview in which the singer spoke about being the breadwinner for her stay-at-home husband and their children. Basiková agreed to take part in the filming, which resulted in the television documentary Bára B. (LIVE). Třeštíková, however, decided to continue following her with the support of producers from Negativ, who were also present at the discussion. They noted that with Helena Třeštíková’s projects, it is never clear in advance how long filming will continue.
The discussion also addressed the amount of footage Třeštíková and editor Adéla Špaljová had to work with. “There actually wasn’t that much material, all things considered. It is comparable to documentaries that are filmed over, say, three years. Altogether, we worked with about 100 hours of footage. Helena knows her craft. Even after thirty years, she remembers precisely which tape contains what, and where certain things were said,” the editor explained.
Basiková did not intervene in the editing process. “It would have been a shame to remove any details. You cannot edit things out of your life either,” she said, and the audience repeatedly applauded her openness and sincerity throughout the discussion. The film has reportedly also been seen by the singer’s colleagues, who told the filmmakers that it is very true to life. Helena Třeštíková then concluded the discussion with her trademark question: “Shall we continue?”
