The legendary Slovak Ondrej Nepela became the absolute Olympic champion in men’s figure skating at the Winter Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan in 1972. However, he had already achieved something extraordinary – he performed at the Olympic Games for the first time at the age of thirteen. From that moment on, he was no longer just “Ondrej”, but a symbol, a representative and the face of a generation. The film, at the Bratislava premiere of which also took part with musician Teri Čikoš, opens in Slovak cinemas on 26.3. 2026!
The film was also ceremoniously presented at a special pre-premiere in the Slovak Olympic House CASA SLOVACA in Milan during the Winter Olympic Games Milan – Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026 on February 18. Koktejl.sk interviewed the representative of Nepal himself – Adam Kubala, at the ceremonial premiere at home.
He already saw the film when it was released in Milan. What does he say about his new film? “I have a great feeling about it. I really liked how the dramaturgy was adjusted so that you could really feel the tension during the film. Which is one aspect I really liked, but I’ve actually seen it before. But what resonated with me the most is that since I somehow worked with that visual before, already during the filming, since I just went to look at or check the things, or the director showed it to me and I had some kind of idea about those scenes. So somehow I felt that I knew what to expect,” revealed Kubala.
One thing got him. “But actually I had no idea about any sound or music at all. So that music resonated with me terribly. I really liked the connection or the correlation simply with the visuals from that time and with the craftwork, which is in the style of the craftwork of the music, which is of course from a similar time, but that it just seemed so fresh to me. So this really resonated with me and also the sound, so the sound design and so on,” revealed the Slovak actor.
What was it like to stand on the set next to Jana Nagyová? “Jana Nagyová, when I saw her name in the casting list, I actually couldn’t connect it. I just told my parents that Jana Nagyová should still be there. And they immediately: what? That simply Arabela was completely legendary (legendary). So, of course, I gradually began to realize who he was. That she is simply an important actress. And working with her was great. It’s one of my favorite experiences working with an actor you play with“, admitted the young artist.
Then came the strong words. “Because she was really like a second mother to me at that point, as she has much more experience. That is from one aspect, from the professional one. And then also in that privacy. We also met outside of filming. We talked about some things that maybe bothered me more than her. Maybe she didn’t have to confide in me as much as I did in her. But it was just great to have an acting partner by your side who you can confide in and lean on at any time,” he added to the famous actress.
