Olga Sommerová: Reflections on Life, Loss, and the Fight for Freedom

Czech filmmaker and former politician Olga Sommerová, known for her poignant documentaries exploring difficult themes, recently discussed her latest work, a film centered on palliative care and the experiences of families facing the loss of a child. In an interview with Deník N, Sommerová shared her perspectives on death, hope, and the importance of defending democratic values in challenging times.

Navigating Political Disillusionment and Finding Purpose

Sommerová expressed her concern over the current political climate, referencing past periods of disillusionment during normalization and the first government of Andrej Babiš. However, she emphasized a conscious decision to avoid succumbing to “social depression” and to actively seek ways to contribute to democracy, even through modest acts of resistance. She found inspiration in Martin Šimečka’s book, The State of Emergency or How to Live Well in Bad Times, which advocates for living in “freedom and truth” within a “parallel polis” – a concept echoing the strategies of dissent under totalitarian regimes.

A Return to Themes of Loss and Hope

Her new documentary brought to mind her earlier film, We Survived Our Children, which explored the profound grief of parents who have lost a child. Sommerová noted that while the pain of losing a child remains an unparalleled tragedy, her recent work allowed her to discover more hope through the dedication of medical professionals and the support provided by organizations like the Vlčková Family Foundation. The foundation, established by Katarína Vlčková and Ondřej Vlček with a contribution of 1.5 billion Czech crowns, is dedicated to developing palliative care services in the Czech Republic, with the goal of reaching a world-class standard within ten years.

The Personal and the Political

Sommerová clarified that her commitment to democratic values is not directly linked to her filmmaking, but rather a fundamental aspect of her life. She views the current political situation as a “present” that she intends to observe critically while protecting her personal well-being and focusing on her creative work.

Background

Olga Sommerová (*August 2, 1949) is a Czech film documentarian, university teacher, and politician. She served as the first deputy chairperson of the Liberal Ecological Party (LES) from 2014 to 2021 and was a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic from May to October 2021, representing TOP 09. Wikipedia details her extensive career, including her time as head of the documentary film department at FAMU (the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague) and her earlier work as a director at Krátký film Praha. She received the Annual Award of the Czech Film and Television Academy in 2019 and the Medal of Merit, 1st Class, in 2023.