Dark Blue World: Czech It.

Dark Blue World is in cinemas now.

While the hype may be surrounding Mel Gibson’s new military star feature We Were Soldiers, there’s another, lower profile but equally worth war film hitting screens at present. Dark Blue World, tells the story of the Czech pilots who fled their homeland, and fought for the British against the Nazis during the Second World War.

Two pilots, Franta and Karel head for England after their occupying forces take control of their airstrip and impound their meagre planes. On arrival in the UK, the pair join the RAF and eventually join the conflict as Spitfire pilots, but their relationship is tested when they both fall in love with the same woman. On an historical note, Czech pilots who fought for the British were imprisoned as traitors by the new Communist regime on their return home from the conflict. As such, the story told in flashback from the brutal realities of a Czech prison, Franta’s current home.

New from the director of the acclaimed Kolya, Jan Sverek, Dark blue world is a passionate and moving film, not so much about war as the frailties of the human spirit. Leading actor Onrej Vetchy (Franta), who had previously worked with Sverek on Kolya, took some time to answer some questions.

What does the film mean to you? Is it about forgiveness or friendship?

"It is about both. Franta´s long wait for his friend's forgiveness was actually less difficult for him than when it came to forgiving himself. He tortured himself worse than anyone."

What got you interested in playing the part of the pilot Franta Slama?

“It was the fact that Franta is an ordinary man brought up to believe it was his duty to defend his country. He's a highly trained officer who fulfils not only his military but also his civil duty. I'm sure that if WW2 hadn't happened, Franta would have been bringing up his children, taking care of his family and paying his bills.”

How did you prepare for your role? Was much of the history of the events documented in the film known to you, or did you have to do a lot of research for your part?

“My entire life prepared me for this character. My character, Franta Slama, was shaped out of everything I'd ever experienced as Ondrej Vetchý and from every role I'd ever played. I have always been interested in history and flying. This combined both.”

How much of your own personality comes across in the character? Do you consider yourself a similar kind of person?

“For the most part. I think and hope that if I were in his place, I would in most cases - if not in all - act in the same way.”

You've worked with Jan Sverak before, what was he like to work with this time around?

“I'd already worked with Jan on Kolya, where we became good friends. I was Broz the gravedigger who persuaded the lead character, Louka - played by Jan's father - into the marriage of convenience with the Russian woman who defects to the West leaving him with the six-year-old Kolya. Since then we've remained friends and workmates. We talked about the film a lot and agreed on my character, Franta Slama, long before shooting started. As a result I was able to relieve Jan of most aspects of my film character during the shoot.

How did you envision the finished production? Was the final film different to how you have envisioned it? Are you happy with how the film looks?

“I sort of knew how it would turn out as a whole. I might have done certain things differently if I was the director, but since I wasn't I could only partially influence the film. As I am hypersensitive and sentimental, it's easy for me to ignore the finer details get swept up by the plot.”

“I'm a very appreciative spectator and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie after I've had time away from it - I'm curious to see what effect it'll have on me. Only then will I be able to judge it properly.”

What were the hardest scenes for you?

“Here we can speak about two levels of ‘hard’. One was acting in English, which I don't speak at all fluently, alongside some excellent British actors. The other was my fight for survival against waves, cold, exhaustion and sharks off the Cape of Good Hope.”

“I knew there were sharks but when things kept screwing up with one stuntman after another I had no alternative but to do the damn thing myself! I think I'd probably do it again as well because I'm quite mad, and Jan would certainly want me to do it because he's mad too. After shooting in South Africa I've also realised that not every visit to the feeding grounds of the Great White Shark has fatal consequences - Thank God!”

Can you actually fly a plane?

“Of course - if I told you I couldn't, the whole illusion would be screwed up!”