A man who can't laugh can be sick: Jiri Menzel

Jiri Menzel, has won critical acclaim for his comedy films, says that humour belongs to life. The filmmaker, who will be conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI this year, spoke to TOI about how his sense of humour has remained intact despite there turbulent political scenario in his home country.
You won an Oscar in your early thirties.Looking back how has the journey been? I am very happy in life. It’s my profession to make films. Of course the techniques have changed, but I am happy I can do a film which I wish to do. It was a little bit difficult during those times... but those circumstances were not exceptional. I did what I could do. My aim was to do films for my country.
Was your creativity restrained because of the political censorship in your home country when communism was at its peak? The times then were not perfect. I think all directors have the same problem. Look at film history. All filmmakers had difficulties. It’s normal. Not necessary political though. It’s not easy to start doing films. But any artist has to respect the conditions of his time. What was only worst in my case was that my country was in subjugation, thanks to Russia. Those years during the invasion, I was without work. Now I am free but I am also without work…
Does your being out of work have anything to do with the economic crisis? Maybe yes. I have work which I can do in theatre. But it’s difficult to make movies for the sake of movies anymore. I am looking out for a good story.
When you were starting out, you sought admissions at a theatre school. They said you lacked talent. After the world appreciating you today, have you gone back to that theatre school which rejected you? No. I haven’t gone back. I started doing theatre because my friends invited me to it. The theatre school was bad. I had good teachers in my film school.
You have seen the dark side of life and yet you maintain the humour. What helped you see the lighter side of life? Humour belongs to life. You can’t live as a grumpy person. A man who can’t laugh can be sick. My work is to get people to laugh. I view all my difficulties with humour.