Michael Douglas, Dakota Johnson, more bring star power to Karlovy Vary
The red carpet was busy on the opening weekend at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Names such as Michael Douglas, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard and Vicky Krieps delivered star power to the region’s biggest celebration of cinema.
The first big name to wow the crowds at festival centre Hotel Thermal was Peter Sarsgaard. The American actor is known for such movies as Boys Don’t Cry, An Education and Memory. Speaking on the red carpet, Sarsgaard, who received the President’s Award, shared some of the most attractive aspects of his profession.
“Getting to meet all these people and going to all these different places and having really intimate – and by that I mean intimate in the mind – relationships with all different kinds of people. I always tell my children I’ve had more first days and last days on the job than almost anyone I know. I think I’ve done maybe 90 different things in my career. That’s a lot of first days and last days, and a lot of different experiences. And I don’t know any other job that has that many different experiences.”
Also receiving the President’s Award on Friday evening was Vicky Krieps. The Luxembourgish-German actress shot to fame with her role in Phantom Thread by Paul Thomas Anderson – and was asked about what makes for a successful actor-director partnership.
“The two people must be honest and go into a kind of room where neither of the two knows exactly where they’re going – and take the risk that the other can let them down. So I can become a problem because I act differently than the director expects. And he can always edit it. But only if two people are truly blindfolded do they truly trust each other and they can let go. So actually when you make a movie you should feel like you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Saturday saw co-producer Michael Douglas introduce a restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Miloš Forman, 50 years after its release. The veteran Hollywood star offered some memories of the Czech-born director.
“He had the ability to make humour, without laughing at people. So we were dealing with crazy people but the humour was integral – and it was a very delicate balance that he had.”
The weekend in Karlovy Vary also belonged to actress Dakota Johnson, a global celebrity perhaps best known for the 50 Shades movies. On Sunday night she too received the President’s Award, and expressed her admiration for the festival.
“I’ve loved it here. I’ve been here for maybe 24 hours, but everyone loves movies. And I’ve had the best time speaking with press, which I never do [laughs]. It’s been so wonderful. And the city is beautiful – I’m just so grateful to be here.”
The 59th Karlovy Vary runs until Saturday, when it will conclude with the traditional awards ceremony.
