Mr. Novy, how are you, what's new?

Thanks for asking, I'm doing well, commensurate with my age, having recently turned seventy-three. I'm rehearsing for the theatre, filming in front of the camera, I'm happy and content. It's been wonderful in Luhačovice, swimming, treatments, walks with my wife, relaxing, great.

You're hinting a little at age. Could you specify on this beautiful autumn day when the autumn of life begins?

I think my youth still lasts to some extent. It's contingent on what ideas you have. The more original they are, the more the state called youth remains in your hands.

Would you like an example, do you have one?

Of course, even though it's been a while. We stayed with Martin Dejdar at the Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště also in your region, which is just fine. On our boat trip through Moravia, we had a boyish idea. Why don't we try to distract the captain and send the boat aground. It didn't work, the owner was properly vigilant and I was at the helm keeping an eye on things, but the idea just rejuvenated us.

You had a difficult ordeal in your life some fourteen years ago when you were almost completely paralyzed. Can you remember those powerful days, weeks, months?

Of course, but life goes on. I remember with great gratitude the medics in Pribram, Motol in Prague and the rehabilitation masters of the field in Kladruby. I am promised that I can return there, a convalescent stay would certainly not hurt.

Already because you are in full work. How do you like Luhačovice and our Zlín region in general?

Thanks for asking, it's not my first time here, always very nice. I like Slovácko, Wallachia and Hana very much even as a native of Sumava. Luhačovice is the gateway to Wallachia. And it's a region of wonderful people who are extremely likeable to me. I still have the passport of the Wallachian Kingdom from King Bolek Polívka. Recently, I was in the Wallachian fairy tale The Greatest Gift and imagine that I play the god Radegast there.

But, it seems that you are more of a god than Bolek himself...

No, no, Bolek is the god of all gods there. How else in his region of Wallachia, right.

As for travel, I know you can swing a good deal behind the wheel, even though you came to us by train. Can you recall any top experiences that you won't forget?

There are many, lately I've been driving as an ambassador for the Driving with the Times event, we teach not only the earlier born drivers how to behave in marginal situations. But perhaps the very best experience is much older. In the late 1970s, Juraj Jakubisko and I made the film Build a House, Plant a Tree. There was a scene in there that I'll never forget. I was about to fall into a ravine as a driver with a big Tatra car. Some trick and love of the computer was out of the question. I was really driving and I managed to jump out at the last moment.