Singer and guitarist Petr Janda: I could already forgive my brother

Has anyone ever wanted to make a big documentary about you in the past?

Not to the extent that Olga came up with. There were only TV documentaries such as 13th Chamber, My Places or other short films that rather mapped my current situation. All of this was usually shot in a day, whereas Django had forty shooting days.

It charts my life since I was a kid, it’s about my family, my band, my life and it’s pretty detailed. At the same time, it is not a biopic, which I like.

Was there a script?

I didn’t get one and I don’t know if Olga had one. Not really. In my opinion, everything was created on the fly. We didn’t know each other before and it was obvious that she had no idea where I would let her into my life. And I let her go everywhere. Either for sensitive things from my personal life, or for filming in my bathroom at home.

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There is nothing recorded in that movie. Everything is authentic, just like I said on camera the first time. I think this is crucial.

Does that mean that the shot of you sleeping in a chair at home with a newspaper in your hand is not about your acting?

At all, I really fell asleep. And I like that Olga filmed it and left it in the movie. Basically, I only had a problem with the archival Bolshevik footage she used. I told her to cut them out because I never enjoyed it.

But in the end, I came to the conclusion that it is her film, she presents herself with it, and if she wants to have those shots as a finishing touch to the era, let them stay there. I would also hate to be told to change the chorus of my song, which I believe is good.

In those, as you say, Bolshevik shots, there are May Day parades. Did you go to them?

I was never in them, although they wanted me to be. Once, people from the Pragokoncert agency, which represented artists at that time, came to my wife Jana and persuaded her to convince me to participate in the parade.

She then told me that she was followed by my boss from Pragokoncert, who came to our barracks unannounced, because it was at a time when houses were not locked, he rang our door bell and said he was coming to try it out. He told her that I really had to go this time. I didn’t go anyway, I went instead to our second house on Prapasti.

Then I saw on TV how people from the Pragoconcert were carrying a banner with a slogan, but basically no one was there for the artist.

After all, one line is missing in the film, namely your relationship with the brothers Jiří and Slávek. Why did you miss her?

Jirka died three years ago, so we couldn’t have him in the film. Otherwise he would definitely be there. And I am not in any contact with Slávek.

Because of the fraud he did to you in the nineties, when he ensured in the restitution that the house after your father in Prague in Vinohrady was registered only to him, although he promised to arrange everything necessary for all three brothers?

Yes, because of that. In addition, it is unpleasant. When journalists come to him without my knowledge to confront him, he either denies it or otherwise avoids communication. He has butter on his head. He made the ultimate mess. I have to admit that I’m surprised that after all these years he still hasn’t found the courage to call me and tell me that he couldn’t do it that time so I can forgive him.

Yes, I would forgive him now. If he apologized.

Did you discover something new about yourself thanks to the making of the film?

I realized the values. I realized that for me the biggest and most important are two. Music and family. I am very happy to have fathered five children. Unfortunately, my son Petr died, but I have four beautiful girls around me, which is incredibly fulfilling and fun for me.

And I can say that if I wasn’t so old, I would still want another child. My wife Alice would go for it, it wouldn’t be a problem for her. But I’m already my age after all.

The film also includes footage of a Ukrainian family who lived with you for a few months after their country was invaded by Russia. Today he is back in Odessa. Are you in contact with her?

Yes, we are on the phone. Olga says that the people stayed with me for nine months, but I think it was only five. I moved them into the house that the musicians live in when they record in my studio. They arrived in the first days of the war. I originally said I would take ten people. But twelve of them arrived, and then two more. I accommodated them all.

Then they said that it is now calm in Odessa. Everyone told them that their house had stopped being bombed and that they could go back. And they did. A few months ago, a woman called me that she was getting her daughter married, so I should come to the wedding. But I was worried and didn’t go. However, I believe that we will meet at some other time, sometime after the war. I consider them part of the family.

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